A possible role for GRP78 in cross vaccination against COVID-19

Abstract

We previously reported in this Journal 1Ibrahim I.M. Abdelmalek D.H. Elshahat M.E. Elfiky A.A. COVID-19 spike-host cell receptor GRP78 binding site prediction.Journal of Infection. 2020; 80: 554-562Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (0) Google Scholar that cell-surface Glucose Regulated Protein 78 (CS-GRP78), also termed heat shock protein A5 (HSPA5), could be a possible route for SARS-CoV-2 internalization. We predicted the binding site on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that can recognize CS-GRP78. A recent communication by Braun and colleagues reported that the spike glycoprotein of the SARS-CoV-2 bears many conserved motifs to the previously determined human coronavirus strains such as HKU1, 229E, NL63, OC43, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV.2Braun J. Loyal L. Frentsch M. Wendisch D. Georg P. Kurth F. et al.SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in healthy donors and patients with COVID-19.Nature. 2020; Crossref Scopus (4) Google Scholar However, we would like to emphasize that using a simple bioinformatics approach can suggest a possible role of the GRP78 in T cell cross immunization against COVID-19. Based on the findings, we can conclude that mild human coronaviruses can be useful as a vaccination against COVID-19.