In silico comparative study of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and antigenic proteins in BCG, OPV, MMR and other vaccines: evidence of possible putative protective effect

Background: Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a viral pandemic disease that induces severe pneumonia in human. Until now, no effective therapeutic interventions or specific vaccines have been developed. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the putative implication of 12 vaccines, including BCG, OPV and MMR in the protection against COVID-19. First, we compared sequences of the main antigenic proteins in the investigated vaccines and SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Then, we investigated identified segments using a combination of structural and antigenicity prediction tools to predict their immunogenic effect.Results: A total of 14 highly similar segments were identified in investigated vaccines. After mapping on S and N proteins and analysis of the antigenicity prediction, three segments, in Hepatitis B, Tetanus and Measles proteins showed structural and antigenic properties that can induce possible putative protective effect.Conclusions: HBV, Tetanus and Measles vaccines should constitute a good candidate for a clinical trial to evaluate their real protective effect against COVID-19.