SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (S, E, M, N)

SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins, including the Spike (S), Envelope (E), Membrane (M), and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins, are the primary components of the virus and serve as the key targets for vaccine development and therapeutic intervention [3, 4]. The Spike protein is the most prominent antigen, mediating viral entry into host cells by binding to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor [12, 14]. Most authorized vaccines, such as mRNA and viral vector-based platforms, specifically encode the Spike protein to elicit neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responses [9, 10]. The Nucleocapsid protein is also highly immunogenic and is often used in diagnostic assays or as a secondary target in next-generation vaccines [1, 17]. These proteins play critical roles in the viral life cycle, including assembly, budding, and genome packaging, making them essential for both infection and the host's immune recognition [6, 14]. Therapeutic strategies targeting these proteins include monoclonal antibodies that block viral attachment and vaccines that prime the immune system for long-term protection [2, 15].

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 antigensCOVID-19 vaccine antigensSpike proteinNucleocapsid proteinMembrane proteinEnvelope protein

Vaccines induce adaptive immune responses, including neutralizing antibodies and T-cell activation, to prevent viral entry and clear infected cells [9, 10]. Monoclonal antibodies bind to the Spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD) to block interaction with the host ACE2 receptor, thereby preventing viral entry [2, 13].