Overview

• LJI researchers leveraged the Immune Epitope Database and AI bioinformatics to analyze over 200 Betacoronavirus sequences and map conserved T-cell epitopes.
• Findings published in Cell highlight non-spike protein epitopes that significantly boost T cell cross-reactivity potential and expand HLA coverage beyond spike-only targets.
• In vitro studies confirmed broad recognition of conserved targets by human T cells, indicating potential protection against multiple coronavirus strains.
• Following laboratory validation, the universal vaccine workflow is advancing into human trials aimed at neutralizing current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants and related viruses.
• The team plans to adapt the epitope-mapping framework to other high-risk viral families—including paramyxoviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses—to support broader universal vaccine development.