All SARS-CoV-2 variants neutralized by a potent new antibody Antibody SARSCoV2 Coronavirus Disease COVID SciImmunology US_FDA DukeMedSchool harvardmed BostonChildrens
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanSep 9 2022Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. In a recent study published in the journal Science Immunology, researchers described a mouse model used to generate a VH1-2 heavy chain - and Vκ1-33 light chain -based recombinant antibody that broadly neutralized all severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants, including the newly emergent Omicron sub-variant BA.5.
Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the RBD's binding with the ACE2 receptor by directly binding to the ACE2 receptor binding motif or binding outside the RBM and inhibiting ACE2 binding. Some neutralizing antibodies do not inhibit ACE2 receptor binding but prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection of the cell by destabilizing the spike protein trimer.
Humanized mice carrying immunoglobulin genes have earlier yielded monoclonal antibodies that successfully neutralized some of the SARS-CoV-2 variants but have not been developed to yield antibodies that neutralize the Omicron sub-variants currently circulating in the population.
The SP1-77 antibody binds to the RBD of the spike protein, inhibiting the dissociation of the S1 subunit and preventing the activation of the fusion peptide on the S2 subunit, ultimately hindering fusion pore formation and viral entry. In addition, Pseudovirus assays revealed that the SP1-77 antibody had broader neutralizing activity than VHH7-5-82 and VHH7-7-53 and neutralized all SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the latest Omicron sub-variant BA.5.