Synthesis of killer T cell epitopes for peptide-based vaccine of SARS-CoV-2. (Special Issue: Chemistry and global challenges (Part B).)

COVID-19 is a current global pandemic, which has prompted many countries to develop ways to deal with it. Peptides have many medicinal and diagnostic benefits, so recently, many researchers have been developing peptide-based vaccines against COVID-19. In peptide-based vaccines, peptides act as specific antigens that will provide a faster immune response because they do not go through the process of cutting proteins in the Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-presenting cells (APC) and can be directly presented outside the cells so that they can be recognized by the host killer T cells (CTL). Vaccine development can be accelerated with the help of immunoinformatic to predict specific epitopes to induce the CTL. We have predicted the CTL epitope through the immunoinformatic method. This study aims to synthesize candidate CTL epitopes as a candidate for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the SPPS method with the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy. In this study, two CTL epitopes were synthesized through a conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) method, and another CTL epitope was synthesized using a semi-automated peptide synthesizer. The SPPS method is faster because the purification is only carried out at the final stage, while the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy was applied because it provides a mild reaction condition. Both synthetic approaches were compared. The semi-automated peptide synthesizer made the synthesis faster and more efficient due to the use of an inert gas (N2) during the synthesis. The synthetic peptides were characterized by TOF-ESI-MS. The three peptides showed ion peaks at m/z 1137.5509 (M+H)+, 1064.3468 (M+H)+, and 916.5859 (M+H)+, indicating correct molecular ion peaks for EILDITPCSF, IPIGAGICASY, and FIAGLIAIV, respectively.

Synthesis of Killer T Cell Epitopes for Peptide-Based Vaccine of SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 is a current global pandemic, which has prompted many countries to develop ways to deal with it. Peptides have many medicinal and diagnostic benefits, so recently, many researchers have been developing peptide-based vaccines against COVID-19. In peptide-based vaccines, peptides act as specific antigens that will provide a faster immune response because they do not go through the process of cutting proteins in the Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-presenting cells (APC) and can be directly presented outside the cells so that they can be recognized by the host killer T cells (CTL). Vaccine development can be accelerated with the help of immunoinformatics to predict specific epitopes to induce CTL. We have predicted the CTL epitope through the immunoinformatic method. This study aims to synthesize candidate CTL epitopes as a candidate for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the SPPS method with the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy. In this study, two CTL epitopes were synthesized through a conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) method, and another CTL epitope was synthesized using a semi-automated peptide synthesizer. The SPPS method is faster because the purification is only carried out at the final stage, while the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy was applied because it provides a mild reaction condition. Both synthetic approaches were compared. The semi-automated peptide synthesizer made the synthesis faster and more efficient due to using an inert gas (N2) during the synthesis. The synthetic peptides were characterized by TOF-ESI-MS. The three peptides showed ion peaks at m/z 1137.5509 (M+H)+, 1064.3468 (M+H)+, and 916.5859 (M+H)+, indicating correct molecular ion peaks for EILDITPCSF, IPIGAGICASY, and FIAGLIAIV, respectively. © 2022 National Information and Documentation Center.

Comparison of Eleutherine bulbosa Derivated Products as an Immunostimulant Supplement for Preventing COVID-19 Transmission

The COVID-19 pandemic that occurred in most areas of the world caused many negative effects, including health, social and economic declined. One alternative to prevented it is to make immunostimulant supplements from natural resources that are available in surrounding environment along with encouraging development of home industries to produce them. In Kalimantan, Indonesia, one of the natural sources that have been utilized and proven locally as a medicinal plant is Bawang Dayak (Eleutherine bulbosa). One of its functions is as an immunostimulant supplement, but until now there has not been much research on the manufacture of E. bulbosa as a home industry product that functions as an immunostimulant supplement. E.bulbosa was demonstrated high antioxidant activity 1.48 μg/ml IC50 value and significantly increased immunity. The E.bulbosa was also contained iso-eleutherine and iso-eleutherol which have the potential as an anti-virus. In this study, several E. bulbosa derivated products, namely teabags and infusions, were introduced and compared starting from technical process, economic analysis, and storage period. Recent study showed that 1 kg of E. bulbosa can produce about 20 boxes of teabags (10 tea bags/box) that can be stored for 6-12 months, with a total profit reached 2-3 times of total production cost. While, 1 kg E. bulbosa was produced 16 bottles containing 330ml infusion drink which can be stored for 3-5 days in refrigerator, and it was provided 2 times profit of total production cost. However, these two products can be used as an alternative to stay healthy along with increase in added value and income for communities.

The potential of herbal medicine from Kalimantan, Indonesia, to stimulate human immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has occurred for more than a year. In the present, it is important to look for COVID-19 drugs to cure COVID-19 sufferers. However, increasing stamina or immunity is more important for everyone to prevent viruses or diseases from entering the body. Herbal remedies that are easy to find and easy to consume are an option to increase immunity. There are three herbal remedies that function to increase body immunity from Kalimantan, Indonesia, especially origin on Dipterocarps forest ecosystem, i.e., Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.),Akar Kuning (Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr.) and Bawang Dayak (Eleutherine bulbosa (L.) Merr). The three medicinal plants are easily found in traditional markets and online shopping, and their function to increase the body's immunity.