Bioinformatics Analysis on Potential Anti-Viral Targets Against Spike Protein of MERS-CoV

Objective Middle East respiratory syndrome is caused by the Middle respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and the mortality is high. However, to date, there is no effective vaccine or antibody for human immunity and treatment as a putative therapeutic agent specific for MERS. The aim of this study was to obtain the bioinformatic characteristics of the MERS-CoV S protein antigen. Methods SOPMA Server software and the DiscoTope were used to predict the secondary and tertiary structures of the MERS-CoV S protein, respectively, whilst a number of online prediction software applications, including IEDB, Syfpeithi and other resources of IEDB, were used for the T- and B-cell epitope predictions. Results The prediction results indicated that the T-cell epitopes were located at positions 950-958, 317-325, 1309-1317, 480-488 and 388-396, whereas the B-cell epitopes were located at positions 520-528, 629-637, 659-667, 734-744, 1205-1212. 19-53, 300-309, 478-523, 528-550 and 622-632. Conclusion These regions were the potential dominant epitopes of the MERS-CoV S protein antigen. The results of our study provide experimental data for the identification and screening of epitopes and may be used for the development of epitope vaccines that have an enhanced safety and efficacy. This may result in the provision of improved regimens for the prevention and treatment of MERS.