Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Therapeutics & Vaccines
Therapeutics Vaccines
IDENTIFICATION OF SARS-COV-2 EPITOPES DISCRIMINATING COVID-19 INFECTION FROM CONTROL AND METHODS OF USE
WARF: P210048WO01

Inventors: Irene Ong, David O'Connor, Miriam Shelef, Anna Heffron, David Baker, Maya Amjadi, Sean McIlwain, Saniya Khullar


The Invention
UW – Madison researchers have determined that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces antibodies against both structural and non-structural proteins and they identified epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein, nucleocapsid protein, and nonstructural proteins. Through their work, they found that more severely ill SARS-CoV-2 patients demonstrate higher-magnitude antibody responses against certain epitopes in SARS-CoV-2. The antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 are capable of cross-reactively binding other similar and dissimilar coronaviruses, including “common cold” coronaviruses.  By showing the full spectrum of antibody binding to linear epitopes in SARS-CoV-2, the researchers were able to determine that the most reactive, sensitive, and specific epitopes are found in the membrane protein and that some of these epitopes induce greater reactivity in more severely ill patients. These previously unknown/unidentified epitopes suggest that this protein could be considered in vaccine development and in the development of improved diagnostics.
Applications
SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development
COVID-19 infection detection
Key Benefits
Identifies COVID-19 infection
Distinguishes prior infection versus vaccination
Potentially indicates COVID severity

 
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
For current licensing status, please contact Jeanine Burmania at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9846

WARF