Designing novel peptides for detecting the Omicron variant, specifying SARS-CoV-2, and simultaneously screening coronavirus infections

Abstract

In this study in silico a candidate diagnostic peptide-based tool was designed in four stages including diagnosis of coronavirus diseases, simultaneously identifying of COVID-19 and SARS from other members of this family, specific identification of SARS-CoV2, and diagnosis of COVID-19 Omicron. Designed candidate peptides consist of four immunodominant peptides from the proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and membrane (M). The tertiary structure of each peptide was predicted. The stimulation ability of the humoral immunity for each peptide was evaluated. Finally, in silico cloning was performed to develop an expression strategy for each peptide. These four peptides have suitable immunogenicity, appropriate construct, and the ability to be expressed in E.coli. These results must be experimentally validated in vitro and in vivo to ensure the immunogenicity of the kit.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Candidate diagnostic peptide-based tool
• coronavirus family
• SARS
• COVID-19
• Omicron

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

The protocol of this study was approved by the Research Ethics committee of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences IR.MAZUMS.REC.1400.048.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research and Technology Deputy of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences under Grant number 8865.