Homologies between SARS-CoV-2 and allergen proteins may direct T cell-mediated heterologous immune responses

Abstract The outbreak of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a public health emergency. Asthma does not represent risk factor for COVID-19 in several published cohorts. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 proteome contains T cell epitopes, which are potentially cross-reactive to allergen epitopes. aimed at identifying homologous peptide sequences by means two distinct complementary bioinformatics approaches. Pipeline 1 included prediction MHC Class I and II epitopes contained allergens along with alignment elaborate ranking 2 involved overlapping peptides known allergen-derived Our results indicate large number epitope pairs including as well de novo predicted high probability cross-reactivity. Allergen sources, such Aspergillus fumigatus , Phleum pratense Dermatophagoides species particular interest due their association multiple candidate peptides, independently applied bioinformatic approach. In contrast, derived from food allergens, class did achieve silico were therefore further investigated. findings warrant experimental confirmation examination functional importance responses.