# MHC class II immunopeptidomics analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 proteome

> **NIH NIH R21** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2021 · $234,000

## Abstract

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH PROJECT
COVID-19 is a global pandemic, the scope of which has not been seen in a century, and there is a critical unmet
need for a vaccine to provide herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2. The objective of this proposal is to identify
conserved immunodominant MHC class II peptides from the SARS-CoV-2 proteome that may be incorporated
into current vaccine design studies. This meets a critical need to design a vaccine that will provide long-term
protective immunity against COVID-19.
This proposal uses an innovative immunopeptidomics platform to define the human SARS-CoV-2 MHC class II
immunopeptidome using tandem mass spectrometry (Aim 1), and to determine CD4+ T cell responses to
potentially immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 MHC-II peptides using a humanized mouse model (Aim 2). Robust CD4+
T cell responses to viral peptides are essential for establishing a pool of long-lived memory B cells and cytotoxic
T cells. Results from this study will provide valuable insights into CD4+ T cell responses to viral proteins that
may be rapidly incorporated into a vaccine design that will provide long-lasting protection from COVID-19.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10182284
- **Project number:** 1R21AI158278-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Lochhead
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $234,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10182284

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10182284, MHC class II immunopeptidomics analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 proteome (1R21AI158278-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10182284. Licensed CC0.

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