Dual Elisa Using Sars-Cov-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Produced In E. Coli And Cho Cells Reveals Epitope Masking By N-Glycosylation

Spike and nucleocapsid proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2-SP, SARS-CoV-2-NP) are the main immunogenic targets for antibodies. We herein demonstrate that the glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2-NP masks some of its antibody epitopes. In many cases, this can lead to false-negative serological tests. Deglycosylation of SARS-CoV-2-NP significantly increased the number of positive tests. The glycosylation pattern analysis of this protein revealed that the putative N-linked glycosylation sites, at the amino acid positions 48 and 270, co-located with two of the main immunodominant B cell epitopes. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.