The identification of CD4 + T cell epitopes is instrumental for the design of subunit vaccines for broad protection against coronaviruses. Here we demonstrate in COVID-19-recovered individuals a robust CD4 + T cell response to naturally processed SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleoprotein (N), including effector, helper, and memory T cells. By characterizing 2943 S-reactive T cell clones from 34 individuals, we found that 34% of clones and 93% of individuals recognized a conserved immunodominant S346-365 region within the RBD comprising nested HLA-DR- and HLA-DP-restricted epitopes. Using pre- and post-COVID-19 samples and S proteins from endemic coronaviruses, we identify cross-reactive T cells targeting multiple S protein sites. The immunodominant and cross-reactive epitopes identified can inform vaccination strategies to counteract emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
【초록키워드】 Coronaviruses, S protein, T cells, CD4, Epitopes, T cell, SARS-CoV-2 variants, memory T cells, Vaccination strategies, Subunit vaccine, nucleoprotein, epitope, HLA-DR, T cell epitope, T cell response, HLA-DP, SARS-CoV-2 spike, Endemic, subunit vaccines, Vaccination strategy, cross-reactive, T cell epitopes, individual, S proteins, clones, clone, effector, helper, immunodominant, robust, identify, conserved, the RBD, individuals, processed, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, CD4, cross-reactivity, T cell response, immunodominance, Clonal analysis,