Spike Proteins of SARS –CoV-2: a detailed perspective on structure,
receptor binding, antigenicity, vaccine development and neutralization
Abstract
Spike proteins are heavily glycosylated, small protrusions located on
the envelops of coronavirus. These proteins are the characteristic
morphological features of coronavirus that give the virus family its
name, and are alone responsible for the virulence, pathogenicity, and
evolving tropism of these viruses. SARS-CoV-2 shows higher affinity
towards its target, ACE-2 receptors in human subjects. This affinity is
the result of mutations in its spike protein gene – as revealed through
genomic sequencing. Being central to the viral structure, SARS-CoV-2
spike proteins and their receptor binding domains are the preferred
platforms for vaccine development. The administration of neutralizing
monoclonal antibodies is also being employed along with vaccines to
accelerate viral shedding. Various expression and purification
strategies are discussed in the paper to provide an updated overview of
the SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic landscape. The development of
antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is still a possible risk linked to
the newly developed vaccines and needs to be studied. These challenges
demand further research and an innovative approach to expand the
therapeutic utility of coronavirus spike proteins.