Specificity
This antibody recognises spike glycoprotein, also known as S glycoprotein, peplomer protein and E2.Human coronaviruses are pathogens that can cause severe respiratory tract infections. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel human coronavirus characterized in 2020, and causes "coronavirus disease 2019" or "COVID-19". The spike glycoproteins of coronaviruses are incorporated into the viral envelope and promote entry into cells. The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is comprised of two subunits called S1 and S2. The S1 protein binds to a receptor on human cells, and the transmembrane unit S2 helps fuse the viral membrane with a cellular membrane. Specifically, both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins contain a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that recognize the same receptor, ACE2, on human cells. This antibody recognises the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.