The consensus B-cell epitopes of SARS coronavirus spike glycoprotein

The goal of this paper is to obtain the consensus B-cell epitopes calculated from the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV, after an analysis of 946 epitopes predicted by thirteen different computer programs. To reduce and select the best epitopes, we define a function called  $<F>$ that includes energy and structural factors obtained from the changes in the Gibbs free energy, the mobility and the degree of solvent exposure. With this information, it was possible to obtain eight of the twenty-four consensus B-cell epitopes could be useful in the design of a vaccine. These epitopes are PNYTQHT, STMNNKSQSV, SKPMGTQT, DVSEKSGN, KYDENGTIT, PSSKRFQPFQQF, FTDSVRDPKTSE, YVPSQERNFT.