Discovery and validation of SARS-CoV-2 epitopes

The global challenge for COVID-19 is to create a vaccine. A key step in the development of a subunit vaccine is the identification of the parts of viral proteins (epitopes) that will trigger immune protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The purpose of this work is two-fold: 1) On the computer, we will develop and test the functionality of a new algorithm for selecting optimal epitopes for vaccine construction and for creating a diagnostic assay; 2) In the lab, we will identify SARS-CoV-2 peptides directly from cells infected with the virus or challenged with viral proteins. These two parallel streams will inform one another, ultimately leading to identification of candidate epitopes that will be tested in vaccines and put to use in diagnostic assays.

Faculty Supervisor:

Leonard Foster;Wilfred Jefferies

Student:

Iryna Saranchova

Partner:

Microsoft Canada

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

University:

University of British Columbia

Program: