A potently neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody inhibits variants of concern by binding a highly conserved epitope.
Laura VanBlarganLucas AdamsZhuoming LiuRita E ChenPavlo GilchukSaravanan RajuBrittany SmithHaiyan ZhaoJames Brett CaseEmma S WinklerBradley WhitenerLindsay DroitIsmael AziatiPei-Yong ShiAdrian CreangaAmarendra PeguScott HandleyDavid WangAdrianus BoonJames E CroweSean P J WhelanDaved FremontMichael S. DiamondPublished in: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (2021)
With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased transmissibility and potential resistance, antibodies and vaccines with broadly inhibitory activity are needed. Here we developed a panel of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs that bind the receptor binding domain of the spike protein at distinct epitopes and block virus attachment to cells and its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (hACE2). While several potently neutralizing mAbs protected K18-hACE2 transgenic mice against infection caused by historical SARS-CoV-2 strains, others induced escape variants in vivo and lost activity against emerging strains. We identified one mAb, SARS2-38, that potently neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern tested and protects mice against challenge by multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains. Structural analysis showed that SARS2-38 engages a conserved epitope proximal to the receptor binding motif. Thus, treatment with or induction of inhibitory antibodies that bind conserved spike epitopes may limit the loss of potency of therapies or vaccines against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- copy number
- escherichia coli
- binding protein
- transcription factor
- angiotensin converting enzyme
- endothelial cells
- type diabetes
- dengue virus
- metabolic syndrome
- induced apoptosis
- gene expression
- zika virus
- risk assessment
- adipose tissue
- coronavirus disease
- diabetic rats
- induced pluripotent stem cells