Non-structural protein 8, ORF8 protein, ns8, nsp8, sars-cov-2
The M protein is a transmembrane glycoprotein composed of a triple membrane domain spanning 80 amino acids accounting for about one-third of the entire protein (221 residues in total). The most abundant structural protein in the SARS-CoV virion, M plays a a sigificante role in the viral budding process, as well as the virus-specific humoral response, indicated by its ability to elicit efficient neutralizing antibodies in SARS patients. It has therefore been proposed that the M protein is a good candidate antigen for a prophylactic vaccine inducing both dominant cellular and humoral immunogenicity.