Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 structural proteins (SARS-CoV-2 structural antigens)

The SARS-CoV-2 structural antigen ensemble consists of the four primary proteins that constitute the physical structure of the virus: the Spike (S), Envelope (E), Membrane (M), and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins (NCBI, 2020). The Spike protein is the most prominent target for vaccine development as it facilitates viral entry into host cells by binding to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor (Nature, 2020). The Nucleocapsid protein is involved in packaging the viral RNA genome, while the Membrane and Envelope proteins are critical for viral assembly and budding (Journal of Virology, 2020). In the context of vaccines, these antigens are presented to the immune system to elicit protective humoral and cellular responses (The Lancet, 2021). Most current vaccines, such as BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, focus on the Spike protein, but whole-virus inactivated vaccines include the broader ensemble to provide more comprehensive immunity (WHO, 2021). Therapeutic interventions, such as monoclonal antibodies, specifically target the receptor-binding domain of the Spike protein to neutralize the virus and prevent infection (NEJM, 2021).

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 structural antigen ensembleSARS-CoV-2 virion proteinsSpike, Envelope, Membrane, and Nucleocapsid proteinsCOVID-19 vaccine antigens

Vaccines utilizing these antigens induce the production of neutralizing antibodies and activate T-cell mediated immunity to prevent viral entry and clear infected cells (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2021). Monoclonal antibodies bind specifically to the Spike protein to block its interaction with the host ACE2 receptor (Nature, 2020).