Scientists have uncovered how a crucial component of the immune system responds to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19—important information for future validation of vaccine candidates.

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Coronavirus particles have a corona (crown) of proteins that resemble spikes, which enable the virus to attach and enter cells in humans. The spike protein is crucial in inducing neutralizing antibodies to protect from re-infection.

Neutralizing antibodies not only bind to the viral spike protein, but prevent it from being able to attach to and enter human cells. Generating a strong neutralizing antibody response is an important goal for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.