Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41746934›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Designing a novel vaccine against COVID-19 based on spike SARS-Cov-2 notable mutations using immunoinformatics approaches.

Somayyeh Rahimnahal, Shahnaz Yousefizadeh, Yahya Mohammadi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Somayyeh RahimnahalDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.
Shahnaz YousefizadehDepartment of clinical and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.
Yahya MohammadiDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8994-8743

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with spike protein mutations undermines the effectiveness of current vaccines, necessitating innovative strategies to ensure broad and lasting immunity. This study leverages an immunoinformatics approach to design two multi-epitope vaccine constructs Cov19-B (649 amino acids, 74 kDa) and Cov19-T (465 amino acids, 48 kDa) specifically targeting mutations in the spike protein observed in the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omicron variants. Using sequence data retrieved from NCBI, GISAID, and UniProt, we predicted a range of epitopes, including linear B-cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T lymphocyte (HTL), and IFN-gamma-inducing epitopes, selected for their high antigenicity, solubility, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity. These epitopes provide extensive global population coverage: 76.83% for MHC I, 87.43% for MHC II, and 93.8% for combined epitopes. The constructs were enhanced with adjuvants-Human Beta-defensin 3, PADRE, and 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12-and connected with AAY, GPGPG, EAAAK, and KK linkers to optimize structural stability and immune activation. Codon-optimized has done using GenSmart™, and structurally stabilized via disulfide engineering (Disulfide by Design 2). Computational analyses, including molecular docking and dynamics simulations (assessing RMSD, RMSF, gyration, and MMPBSA), validated stable binding interactions with human neutralizing antibodies. Immune response simulations conducted via C-IMMSIM further confirmed the constructs' capacity to trigger robust humoral and cellular immunity. To enable practical application, codon optimization was performed for efficient expression in prokaryotic systems. This study highlights the vital role of continuous genomic surveillance in tracking SARS-CoV-2 evolution and informs the development of next-generation vaccines. However, the study is limited to computational predictions, requiring experimental validation to confirm efficacy.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusEpitopes, B-LymphocyteEpitopes, T-LymphocyteHumansImmunoinformaticsMolecular Docking SimulationMutationProtein Subunit VaccinesCOVID-19 VaccinesEpitopes, B-LymphocyteEpitopes, T-LymphocyteProtein Subunit VaccinesSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41746934
PMCPMC12944808

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.