Molecular Landscapes by David S. Goodsell
Phage-based COVID-19 Vaccine, 2021
Acknowledgement: David S. Goodsell, RCSB Protein Data Bank and Scripps Research. doi: 10.2210/rcsb_pdb/goodsell-gallery-045
Genetically-engineered phage particles displaying a defined epitope of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can elicit a systemic immune response. Candidate epitopes may be assessed through various genetic and structural studies to determine feasibility as a universal epitope for protection against existing and emerging viral variants. In this artistic depiction, created in collaboration with Christopher Markosian and Daniela Staquicini, phage particles (pale blue) display multiple copies of the spike protein-derived C662–C671 epitope (pink), which elicit the generation of antibodies (yellow) immunoreactive against spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 is shown at bottom right in magenta and purple.
For more information, please see two publications:
1) Design and Proof of Concept for Targeted Phage-based COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies with a Streamlined Cold-free Supply Chain
(2021) PNAS 118: e2105739118 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2105739118
2) Genetic and Structural Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein for Universal Epitope Selection
(2022) Molecular Biology and Evolution 39: msac091 doi: 10.1093/molbev/msac091
