Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 JN.1 spike glycoprotein (SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 S protein)

The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) JN.1 spike glycoprotein is the primary surface protein of the JN.1 variant, a descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86 lineage (WHO, 2023). It functions as the key mediator of viral entry by binding to the host Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through its receptor-binding domain (Nature, 2024). The JN.1 spike is distinguished by the L455S mutation, which significantly enhances its ability to evade neutralizing antibodies and increases its transmissibility compared to previous Omicron subvariants (CDC, 2024). As a major antigen, the spike protein is the primary target for B-cell receptors, which recognize its epitopes to trigger the production of neutralizing antibodies and establish long-term immunological memory (PubMed, 2024). Current therapeutic interventions, including the 2024-2025 updated mRNA vaccines, specifically target this glycoprotein to provide protection against circulating JN.1-related strains (FDA, 2024). Understanding the structural evolution of this protein is vital for the development of next-generation vaccines and monoclonal antibodies to combat ongoing viral diversification (Lancet, 2024).

Other names

JN.1 spike proteinSARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 S proteinBA.2.86.1.1 spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2 JN.1 antigenSARS-CoV-2 JN.1 spike glycoprotein – antigen for B-cell receptors

Induction of neutralizing antibodies and B-cell memory that block the interaction between the viral spike protein and the host ACE2 receptor, thereby preventing viral entry into host cells.