ABSTRACT
The understanding of any disease calls for studying specific biological structures called epitopes. One important tool recently drawing attention and proving efficiency in both diagnosis and vaccine development is epitope mapping. Several techniques have been developed with the urge to provide precise epitope mapping for use in designing sensitive diagnostic tools and developing rpitope-based vaccines (EBVs) as well as therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art in epitope mapping with a special emphasis on accomplishments and opportunities in combating COVID-19. These comprise SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis versus the currently available immune-based diagnostic tools and vaccines, immunological profile-based patient stratification, and finally, exploring novel epitope targets for potential prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agents for COVID-19.
Epitope mapping is an important tool recently proving efficiency in both diagnosis and vaccine development. Several epitope mapping techniques have been developed for designing sensitive diagnostic tools and developing rpitope-based vaccines (EBVs) as well as therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art in epitope mapping, emphasizing accomplishments and opportunities in combating COVID-19. These comprise SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis versus the currently available immune-based diagnostic tools and vaccines and exploring novel epitope targets for potential prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agents for COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
The understanding of any disease calls for studying specific biological structures called epitopes. One important tool recently drawing attention and proving efficiency in both diagnosis and vaccine development is epitope mapping. Several techniques have been developed with the urge to provide precise epitope mapping for use in designing sensitive diagnostic tools and developing rpitope-based vaccines (EBVs) as well as therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art in epitope mapping with a special emphasis on accomplishments and opportunities in combating COVID-19. These comprise SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis versus the currently available immune-based diagnostic tools and vaccines, immunological profile-based patient stratification, and finally, exploring novel epitope targets for potential prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agents for COVID-19. Plain language summary Epitope mapping is an important tool recently proving efficiency in both diagnosis and vaccine development. Several epitope mapping techniques have been developed for designing sensitive diagnostic tools and developing rpitope-based vaccines (EBVs) as well as therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the state of the art in epitope mapping, emphasizing accomplishments and opportunities in combating COVID-19. These comprise SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis versus the currently available immune-based diagnostic tools and vaccines and exploring novel epitope targets for potential prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic agents for COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, several bioinformatic analyses have been conducted on SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. Numerous studies rushed to fill the gap about this novel virus. Comparison with other related sequences, structural predictions of the produced proteins, determination of variations in amino acid residues and depiction of possible drug and vaccine targets have been the focus of scientific research from the beginning of this year. In addition to discussing the viral taxonomy, clinical features, life cycle, and genome organization, this review will focus on the recent updates in genome and viral proteins characterization and potential therapeutic and vaccine candidates developed so far. Comparative studies with related genomes and proteins provide understanding for the viral molecular mechanisms and suggest targets for therapeutics and vaccinology trials to stop the escalation of this new virus. This pandemic, with its resulting social and economic afflictions, will definitely have significant marks on our lives in the following years.