Figure 6. Mapping of the immunodominant epitopes on the
SARS-CoV-2 NP protein by Pepscan analysis against antisera from COVID-19
patients and identification of the immunodominant epitope. (A)Sera of COVID-19 patients (n = 66) and healthy blood donors (n=23) were
subjected to 9 pools (F to N) of overlapping peptides that cover the
entire NP protein sequence. The reactivity of sera with the overlapping
peptide pool that covers the entire sequences of the NP protein was
determined by ELISA. (B) Identification of the immunodominant
epitope among ”pool I” peptides from NP protein. Individual peptides
(P136-155, P151-170 and P166-185) of the positive peptide pool on NP
protein was screened with plasma samples from 25 COVID-19 patients to
determine the most reactive peptide. The solid lines represent mean
values ± SD, P<0.001 (***),P<0.0001 (****). NP:
Nucleocapsid; P: Patients; NI: Normal individuals.