T CELL EPITOPE CLUSTERS AND RELATED COMPOSITIONS USEFUL IN THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF COVID-19

摘要

The present disclosure relates to novel epitope-based compositions, including vaccines, against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, including the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019. The disclosure relates to immunogenic polypeptides (including concatemeric polypeptides, hybrid Ii-key constructs, and chimeric or fusion polypeptides as disclosed herein) and the uses thereof, particularly in vaccine compositions. The disclosure also relates to nucleic acids, vectors, and cells which express the polypeptides and the uses thereof. The polypeptides of the invention more specifically comprise an agretope predicted to be a ligand of HLA class I and/or HLA class II MHC molecules, as well as an epitope that is predicted to be recognized by T-cells in the context of MHC class I and/or class II molecules. The compositions are particularly suited to produce vaccines, particularly for vaccinating against SARS-CoV-2 infection and related diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, including COVID-19.