SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific B-cell receptors and T-cell receptors (SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific BCRs/TCRs)

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific B-cell receptors (BCRs) and T-cell receptors (TCRs) are the primary molecular components of the adaptive immune system that recognize the virus responsible for COVID-19. BCRs on B cells recognize the surface-exposed spike protein, leading to the production of neutralizing antibodies that block viral entry into host cells (Sette & Crotty, 2021). TCRs on T cells recognize spike-derived peptides presented by MHC molecules, facilitating the destruction of infected cells and coordinating the broader immune response (Grifoni et al., 2020). These receptors are the central targets of vaccination strategies, which aim to induce a robust and lasting population of spike-specific memory lymphocytes (Polack et al., 2020). Furthermore, high-affinity BCR sequences have been utilized to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization in clinical settings (Hansen et al., 2020). Monitoring the repertoire and affinity of these receptors is essential for assessing vaccine efficacy and the impact of viral variants on immune evasion. The diversity of these receptors determines the breadth of the immune response against different SARS-CoV-2 strains and informs the development of next-generation boosters.

Other names

Spike-specific BCRsSpike-specific TCRsAnti-SARS-CoV-2 spike immune receptorsSARS-CoV-2 spike-reactive lymphocytesAnti-S BCRs and TCRs

Vaccines provide the spike protein antigen which binds to and activates naive B-cell receptors and T-cell receptors, triggering clonal expansion and the formation of immunological memory. Monoclonal antibodies are recombinant proteins derived from potent spike-specific BCR sequences that act as exogenous neutralizers of the virus by binding to the spike protein and preventing host cell entry.