The S glycoprotein of coronaviruses is important for viral entry and pathogenesis with most variable sequences. Therefore, we analyzed the S gene sequences of SARS-CoV-2 to better understand the antigenicity and immunogenicity of this virus in this study. In phylogenetic analysis, two subtypes (SARS-CoV-2a and -b) were confirmed within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These two subtypes were divided by a novel synonymous mutation of D614G. This may play a crucial role in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to evade the host immune system. The region containing this mutation point was confirmed as a B-cell epitope located in the S1 domain, and SARS-CoV-2b strains exhibited severe reduced antigenic indexes compared to SARS-CoV-2a in this area. This may allow these two subtypes to have different antigenicity. If the two subtypes have different serological characteristics, a vaccine for both subtypes will be more effective to prevent COVID-19. Thus, further study is urgently required to confirm the antigenicity of these two subtypes.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Spike protein, antigenicity, 【초록키워드】 Vaccine, Mutation, Pathogenesis, virus, viral entry, Phylogenetic analysis, Characteristics, Evolution of SARS-CoV-2, D614G, B-cell epitope, serological, S glycoprotein, S gene, strain, Subtypes, antigenic, sequence, host immune system, SARS-CoV-2 strains, subtype, S1 domain, Prevent, effective, synonymous, analyzed, required, reduced, exhibited, coronavirus, evade, 【제목키워드】 novel,