1
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Chen C, Saville JW, Marti MM, Schäfer A, Cheng MH, Mannar D, Zhu X, Berezuk AM, Banerjee A, Sobolewski MD, Kim A, Treat BR, Da Silva Castanha PM, Enick N, McCormick KD, Liu X, Adams C, Hines MG, Sun Z, Chen W, Jacobs JL, Barratt-Boyes SM, Mellors JW, Baric RS, Bahar I, Dimitrov DS, Subramaniam S, Martinez DR, Li W. Potent Neutralization of Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern by Biparatopic Human VH Domains. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.02.18.481058. [PMID: 35194603 PMCID: PMC8863138 DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.18.481058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) requires the development of next-generation biologics that are effective against a variety of strains of the virus. Herein, we characterize a human V H domain, F6, which we generated by sequentially panning large phage displayed V H libraries against receptor binding domains (RBDs) containing VOC mutations. Cryo-EM analyses reveal that F6 has a unique binding mode that spans a broad surface of the RBD and involves the antibody framework region. Attachment of an Fc region to a fusion of F6 and ab8, a previously characterized V H domain, resulted in a construct (F6-ab8-Fc) that neutralized Omicron pseudoviruses with a half-maximal neutralizing concentration (IC 50 ) of 4.8 nM in vitro . Additionally, prophylactic treatment using F6-ab8-Fc reduced live Beta (B.1.351) variant viral titers in the lungs of a mouse model. Our results provide a new potential therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs - including the recently emerged Omicron variant - and highlight a vulnerable epitope within the spike protein RBD that may be exploited to achieve broad protection against circulating variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Chen
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James W. Saville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
| | - Michelle M. Marti
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Schäfer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dhiraj Mannar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
| | - Xing Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
| | - Alison M. Berezuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
| | - Anupam Banerjee
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michele D. Sobolewski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Andrew Kim
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin R. Treat
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Priscila Mayrelle Da Silva Castanha
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Nathan Enick
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kevin D McCormick
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xianglei Liu
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cynthia Adams
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Margaret Grace Hines
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zehua Sun
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Jana L. Jacobs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Simon M. Barratt-Boyes
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - John W. Mellors
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Abound Bio, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dimiter S. Dimitrov
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Abound Bio, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sriram Subramaniam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z3
| | - David R. Martinez
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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2
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Gorchakov AA, Kulemzin SV, Guselnikov SV, Baranov KO, Belovezhets TN, Mechetina LV, Volkova OY, Najakshin AM, Chikaev NA, Chikaev AN, Solodkov PP, Larichev VF, Gulyaeva MA, Markhaev AG, Kononova YV, Alekseyev AY, Shestopalov AM, Yusubalieva GM, Klypa TV, Ivanov AV, Valuev-Elliston VT, Baklaushev VP, Taranin AV. Isolation of a panel of ultra-potent human antibodies neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and viral variants of concern. Cell Discov 2021; 7:96. [PMID: 34667147 PMCID: PMC8526700 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-021-00340-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of virus-targeting small-molecule drugs approved for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, broadening the repertoire of potent SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies represents an important area of research in response to the ongoing pandemic. Systematic analysis of such antibodies and their combinations can be particularly instrumental for identification of candidates that may prove resistant to the emerging viral escape variants. Here, we isolated a panel of 23 RBD-specific human monoclonal antibodies from the B cells of convalescent patients. A surprisingly large proportion of such antibodies displayed potent virus-neutralizing activity both in vitro and in vivo. Four of the isolated nAbs can be categorized as ultrapotent with an apparent IC100 below 16 ng/mL. We show that individual nAbs as well as dual combinations thereof retain activity against currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, B.1.617, and C.37), as well as against other viral variants. When used as a prophylactics or therapeutics, these nAbs could potently suppress viral replication and prevent lung pathology in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters. Our data contribute to the rational development of oligoclonal therapeutic nAb cocktails mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A Gorchakov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey V Kulemzin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey V Guselnikov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Konstantin O Baranov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatyana N Belovezhets
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ludmila V Mechetina
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga Yu Volkova
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander M Najakshin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nikolai A Chikaev
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anton N Chikaev
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Pavel P Solodkov
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Victor F Larichev
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina A Gulyaeva
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander G Markhaev
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yulia V Kononova
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander Yu Alekseyev
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Dagestan State University, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russia
| | - Alexander M Shestopalov
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Dagestan State University, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russia
| | - Gaukhar M Yusubalieva
- Federal Research and Clinical Center for Specialized Medical Care, FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Klypa
- Federal Research and Clinical Center for Specialized Medical Care, FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Ivanov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir T Valuev-Elliston
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir P Baklaushev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center for Specialized Medical Care, FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Taranin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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3
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Bai C, Zhong Q, Gao GF. Overview of SARS-CoV-2 genome-encoded proteins. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 65:280-294. [PMID: 34387838 PMCID: PMC8362648 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-1964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout the world. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, plus-stranded RNA virus with a single-stranded RNA genome of approximately 30,000 nucleotides. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes 29 proteins, including 16 nonstructural, 4 structural and 9 accessory proteins. To date, over 1,228 experimental structures of SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), including 16 protein structures, two functional domain structures of nucleocapsid (N) protein, and scores of complexes. Overall, they exhibit high similarity to SARS-CoV proteins. Here, we summarize the progress of structural and functional research on SARS-CoV-2 proteins. These studies provide structural and functional insights into proteins of SARS-CoV-2, and further elucidate the daedal relationship between different components at the atomic level in the viral life cycle, including attachment to the host cell, viral genome replication and transcription, genome packaging and assembly, and virus release. It is important to understand the structural and functional properties of SARS-CoV-2 proteins as it will facilitate the development of anti-CoV drugs and vaccines to prevent and control the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongzhi Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,Central Laboratory, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030012, China.,Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Qiming Zhong
- Central Laboratory, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030012, China
| | - George Fu Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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4
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Harvey WT, Carabelli AM, Jackson B, Gupta RK, Thomson EC, Harrison EM, Ludden C, Reeve R, Rambaut A, Peacock SJ, Robertson DL. SARS-CoV-2 variants, spike mutations and immune escape. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:409-424. [PMID: 34075212 PMCID: PMC8167834 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00573-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2137] [Impact Index Per Article: 712.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although most mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome are expected to be either deleterious and swiftly purged or relatively neutral, a small proportion will affect functional properties and may alter infectivity, disease severity or interactions with host immunity. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 was followed by a period of relative evolutionary stasis lasting about 11 months. Since late 2020, however, SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterized by the emergence of sets of mutations, in the context of 'variants of concern', that impact virus characteristics, including transmissibility and antigenicity, probably in response to the changing immune profile of the human population. There is emerging evidence of reduced neutralization of some SARS-CoV-2 variants by postvaccination serum; however, a greater understanding of correlates of protection is required to evaluate how this may impact vaccine effectiveness. Nonetheless, manufacturers are preparing platforms for a possible update of vaccine sequences, and it is crucial that surveillance of genetic and antigenic changes in the global virus population is done alongside experiments to elucidate the phenotypic impacts of mutations. In this Review, we summarize the literature on mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the primary antigen, focusing on their impacts on antigenicity and contextualizing them in the protein structure, and discuss them in the context of observed mutation frequencies in global sequence datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Harvey
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Ben Jackson
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ravindra K Gupta
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emma C Thomson
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Ewan M Harrison
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Richard Reeve
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Rambaut
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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5
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Kombe Kombe AJ, Zahid A, Mohammed A, Shi R, Jin T. Potent Molecular Feature-based Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies as Promising Therapeutics Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:670815. [PMID: 34136533 PMCID: PMC8201996 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.670815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2019-2020 winter was marked by the emergence of a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) related disease (COVID-19), which started in Wuhan, China. Its high human-to-human transmission ability led to a worldwide spread within few weeks and has caused substantial human loss. Mechanical antiviral control approach, drug repositioning, and use of COVID-19 convalescent plasmas (CPs) were the first line strategies utilized to mitigate the viral spread, yet insufficient. The urgent need to contain this deadly pandemic has led searchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines. However, not all vaccines manufactured are safe. Besides, an alternative and effective treatment option for such an infectious disease would include pure anti-viral neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (NmAbs), which can block the virus at specific molecular targets from entering cells by inhibiting virus-cell structural complex formation, with more safety and efficiency than the CP. Indeed, there is a lot of molecular evidence about the protector effect and the use of molecular feature-based NmAbs as promising therapeutics to contain COVID-19. Thus, from the scientific publication database screening, we here retrieved antibody-related papers and summarized the repertory of characterized NmAbs against SARS-CoV-2, their molecular neutralization mechanisms, and their immunotherapeutic pros and cons. About 500 anti-SARS-CoV-2 NmAbs, characterized through competitive binding assays and neutralization efficacy, were reported at the writing time (January 2021). All NmAbs bind respectively to SARS-CoV-2 S and exhibit high molecular neutralizing effects against wild-type and/or pseudotyped virus. Overall, we defined six NmAb groups blocking SARS-CoV-2 through different molecular neutralization mechanisms, from which five potential neutralization sites on SARS-CoV-2 S protein are described. Therefore, more efforts are needed to develop NmAbs-based cocktails to mitigate COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud John Kombe Kombe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ayesha Zahid
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ahmed Mohammed
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ronghua Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Tengchuan Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
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6
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Structural basis for bivalent binding and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection by human potent neutralizing antibodies. Cell Res 2021; 31:517-525. [PMID: 33731853 PMCID: PMC7966918 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-021-00487-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nAbs) to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represent promising candidates for clinical intervention against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We isolated a large number of nAbs from SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals capable of disrupting proper interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike (S) protein and the receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). However, the structural basis for their potent neutralizing activity remains unclear. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of the ten most potent nAbs in their native full-length IgG-form or in both IgG-form and Fab-form bound to the trimeric S protein of SARS-CoV-2. The bivalent binding of the full-length IgG is found to associate with more RBDs in the "up" conformation than the monovalent binding of Fab, perhaps contributing to the enhanced neutralizing activity of IgG and triggering more shedding of the S1 subunit from the S protein. Comparison of a large number of nAbs identified common and unique structural features associated with their potent neutralizing activities. This work provides a structural basis for further understanding the mechanism of nAbs, especially through revealing the bivalent binding and its correlation with more potent neutralization and the shedding of S1 subunit.
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7
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Hurt AC, Wheatley AK. Neutralizing Antibody Therapeutics for COVID-19. Viruses 2021; 13:628. [PMID: 33916927 PMCID: PMC8067572 DOI: 10.3390/v13040628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant global public health burden, leading to an urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. In this article, we review the role of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in the clinical management of COVID-19 and provide an overview of recent randomized controlled trial data evaluating nAbs in the ambulatory, hospitalized and prophylaxis settings. Two nAb cocktails (casirivimab/imdevimab and bamlanivimab/etesevimab) and one nAb monotherapy (bamlanivimab) have been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ambulatory patients who have a high risk of progressing to severe disease, and the European Medicines Agency has similarly recommended both cocktails and bamlanivimab monotherapy for use in COVID-19 patients who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. Efficacy of nAbs in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 has been varied, potentially highlighting the challenges of antiviral treatment in patients who have already progressed to severe disease. However, early data suggest a promising prophylactic role for nAbs in providing effective COVID-19 protection. We also review the risk of treatment-emergent antiviral resistant "escape" mutants and strategies to minimize their occurrence, discuss the susceptibility of newly emerging SARS-COV-2 variants to nAbs, as well as explore administration challenges and ways to improve patient access.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam K. Wheatley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
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8
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Lim SA, Gramespacher JA, Pance K, Rettko NJ, Solomon P, Jin J, Lui I, Elledge SK, Liu J, Bracken CJ, Simmons G, Zhou XX, Leung KK, Wells JA. Bispecific VH/Fab antibodies targeting neutralizing and non-neutralizing Spike epitopes demonstrate enhanced potency against SARS-CoV-2. MAbs 2021; 13:1893426. [PMID: 33666135 PMCID: PMC7939556 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1893426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous neutralizing antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, and most directly block binding of the viral Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) to angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Here, we deliberately exploit non-neutralizing RBD antibodies, showing they can dramatically assist in neutralization when linked to neutralizing binders. We identified antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) by phage display that bind RBD, but do not block ACE2 or neutralize virus as IgGs. When these non-neutralizing Fabs were assembled into bispecific VH/Fab IgGs with a neutralizing VH domain, we observed a ~ 25-fold potency improvement in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 compared to the mono-specific bi-valent VH-Fc alone or the cocktail of the VH-Fc and IgG. This effect was epitope-dependent, reflecting the unique geometry of the bispecific antibody toward Spike. Our results show that a bispecific antibody that combines both neutralizing and non-neutralizing epitopes on Spike-RBD is a promising and rapid engineering strategy to improve the potency of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Bispecific/genetics
- Antibodies, Bispecific/immunology
- Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/genetics
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use
- COVID-19/genetics
- COVID-19/immunology
- Epitopes/genetics
- Epitopes/immunology
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/immunology
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/therapeutic use
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Affiliation(s)
- Shion A. Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Josef A. Gramespacher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katarina Pance
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Rettko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paige Solomon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jing Jin
- Vitalant Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Irene Lui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susanna K. Elledge
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Colton J. Bracken
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Graham Simmons
- Vitalant Research Institute and Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of California San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xin X. Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin K. Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - James A. Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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9
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Bracken CJ, Lim SA, Solomon P, Rettko NJ, Nguyen DP, Zha BS, Schaefer K, Byrnes JR, Zhou J, Lui I, Liu J, Pance K, Zhou XX, Leung KK, Wells JA. Bi-paratopic and multivalent VH domains block ACE2 binding and neutralize SARS-CoV-2. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:113-121. [PMID: 33082574 PMCID: PMC8356808 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Neutralizing agents against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19. Here, we present a strategy to rapidly identify and assemble synthetic human variable heavy (VH) domains toward neutralizing epitopes. We constructed a VH-phage library and targeted the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding interface of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain (Spike-RBD). Using a masked selection approach, we identified VH binders to two non-overlapping epitopes and further assembled these into multivalent and bi-paratopic formats. These VH constructs showed increased affinity to Spike (up to 600-fold) and neutralization potency (up to 1,400-fold) on pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 virus when compared to standalone VH domains. The most potent binder, a trivalent VH, neutralized authentic SARS-CoV-2 with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 4.0 nM (180 ng ml-1). A cryo-EM structure of the trivalent VH bound to Spike shows each VH domain engaging an RBD at the ACE2 binding site, confirming our original design strategy.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/chemistry
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/genetics
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/chemistry
- Antibodies, Viral/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Binding Sites, Antibody/genetics
- Binding Sites, Antibody/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Models, Molecular
- Peptide Library
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- SARS-CoV-2
- Single-Chain Antibodies/chemistry
- Single-Chain Antibodies/genetics
- Single-Chain Antibodies/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/antagonists & inhibitors
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Colton J Bracken
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shion A Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paige Solomon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Rettko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Duy P Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Lyell Immunopharma Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Beth Shoshana Zha
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaitlin Schaefer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James R Byrnes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Irene Lui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Merck & Co., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katarina Pance
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xin X Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kevin K Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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10
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Barnes CO, Jette CA, Abernathy ME, Dam KMA, Esswein SR, Gristick HB, Malyutin AG, Sharaf NG, Huey-Tubman KE, Lee YE, Robbiani DF, Nussenzweig MC, West AP, Bjorkman PJ. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody structures inform therapeutic strategies. Nature 2020; 588:682-687. [PMID: 33045718 PMCID: PMC8092461 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2852-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1112] [Impact Index Per Article: 278.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an urgent health crisis. Human neutralizing antibodies that target the host ACE2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein1-5 show promise therapeutically and are being evaluated clinically6-8. Here, to identify the structural correlates of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, we solved eight new structures of distinct COVID-19 human neutralizing antibodies5 in complex with the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer or RBD. Structural comparisons allowed us to classify the antibodies into categories: (1) neutralizing antibodies encoded by the VH3-53 gene segment with short CDRH3 loops that block ACE2 and bind only to 'up' RBDs; (2) ACE2-blocking neutralizing antibodies that bind both up and 'down' RBDs and can contact adjacent RBDs; (3) neutralizing antibodies that bind outside the ACE2 site and recognize both up and down RBDs; and (4) previously described antibodies that do not block ACE2 and bind only to up RBDs9. Class 2 contained four neutralizing antibodies with epitopes that bridged RBDs, including a VH3-53 antibody that used a long CDRH3 with a hydrophobic tip to bridge between adjacent down RBDs, thereby locking the spike into a closed conformation. Epitope and paratope mapping revealed few interactions with host-derived N-glycans and minor contributions of antibody somatic hypermutations to epitope contacts. Affinity measurements and mapping of naturally occurring and in vitro-selected spike mutants in 3D provided insight into the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to escape from antibodies elicited during infection or delivered therapeutically. These classifications and structural analyses provide rules for assigning current and future human RBD-targeting antibodies into classes, evaluating avidity effects and suggesting combinations for clinical use, and provide insight into immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/chemistry
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/ultrastructure
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/ultrastructure
- Binding Sites/genetics
- Binding Sites/immunology
- COVID-19/immunology
- Cell Line
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- Humans
- Models, Molecular
- Mutation
- Receptors, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Receptors, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Receptors, Coronavirus/ultrastructure
- SARS-CoV-2/chemistry
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2/ultrastructure
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/ultrastructure
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O Barnes
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Claudia A Jette
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Morgan E Abernathy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kim-Marie A Dam
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Shannon R Esswein
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Harry B Gristick
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Andrey G Malyutin
- Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Naima G Sharaf
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kathryn E Huey-Tubman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Yu E Lee
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Davide F Robbiani
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michel C Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Anthony P West
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Pamela J Bjorkman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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11
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Schäfer A, Muecksch F, Lorenzi JCC, Leist SR, Cipolla M, Bournazos S, Schmidt F, Gazumyan A, Baric RS, Robbiani DF, Hatziioannou T, Ravetch JV, Bieniasz PD, Nussenzweig MC, Sheahan TP. Antibody potency, effector function and combinations in protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.09.15.298067. [PMID: 32995782 PMCID: PMC7523108 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.15.298067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is responsible for over 24 million infections and 800,000 deaths since its emergence in December 2019. There are few therapeutic options and no approved vaccines. Here we examine the properties of highly potent human monoclonal antibodies (hu-mAbs) in a mouse adapted model of SARS-CoV-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2 MA). In vitro antibody neutralization potency did not uniformly correlate with in vivo activity, and some hu-mAbs were more potent in combination in vivo . Analysis of antibody Fc regions revealed that binding to activating Fc receptors is essential for optimal protection against SARS-CoV-2 MA. The data indicate that hu-mAb protective activity is dependent on intact effector function and that in vivo testing is required to establish optimal hu-mAb combinations for COVID-19 prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schäfer
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Frauke Muecksch
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Julio C. C. Lorenzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Sarah R. Leist
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Melissa Cipolla
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Stylianos Bournazos
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Fabian Schmidt
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Anna Gazumyan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | | | - Jeffrey V. Ravetch
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Paul D. Bieniasz
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Michel C. Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Timothy P. Sheahan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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12
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Barnes CO, Jette CA, Abernathy ME, Dam KMA, Esswein SR, Gristick HB, Malyutin AG, Sharaf NG, Huey-Tubman KE, Lee YE, Robbiani DF, Nussenzweig MC, West AP, Bjorkman PJ. Structural classification of neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain suggests vaccine and therapeutic strategies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.08.30.273920. [PMID: 32869026 PMCID: PMC7457611 DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.30.273920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an urgent health crisis. Human neutralizing antibodies (hNAbs) that target the host ACE2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike1-5 show therapeutic promise and are being evaluated clincally6-8. To determine structural correlates of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, we solved 8 new structures of distinct COVID-19 hNAbs5 in complex with SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer or RBD. Structural comparisons allowed classification into categories: (1) VH3-53 hNAbs with short CDRH3s that block ACE2 and bind only to "up" RBDs, (2) ACE2-blocking hNAbs that bind both "up" and "down" RBDs and can contact adjacent RBDs, (3) hNAbs that bind outside the ACE2 site and recognize "up" and "down" RBDs, and (4) Previously-described antibodies that do not block ACE2 and bind only "up" RBDs9. Class 2 comprised four hNAbs whose epitopes bridged RBDs, including a VH3-53 hNAb that used a long CDRH3 with a hydrophobic tip to bridge between adjacent "down" RBDs, thereby locking spike into a closed conformation. Epitope/paratope mapping revealed few interactions with host-derived N-glycans and minor contributions of antibody somatic hypermutations to epitope contacts. Affinity measurements and mapping of naturally-occurring and in vitro-selected spike mutants in 3D provided insight into the potential for SARS-CoV-2 escape from antibodies elicited during infection or delivered therapeutically. These classifications and structural analyses provide rules for assigning current and future human RBD-targeting antibodies into classes, evaluating avidity effects, suggesting combinations for clinical use, and providing insight into immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O. Barnes
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Claudia A. Jette
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Morgan E. Abernathy
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kim-Marie A. Dam
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Shannon R. Esswein
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Harry B. Gristick
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Andrey G. Malyutin
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Naima G. Sharaf
- Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Kathryn E. Huey-Tubman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Yu E. Lee
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Present address: Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michel C. Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | - Anthony P. West
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Pamela J. Bjorkman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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13
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Bracken CJ, Lim SA, Solomon P, Rettko NJ, Nguyen DP, Zha BS, Schaefer K, Byrnes JR, Zhou J, Lui I, Liu J, Pance K, Zhou XX, Leung KK, Wells JA. Bi-paratopic and multivalent human VH domains neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by targeting distinct epitopes within the ACE2 binding interface of Spike. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.08.08.242511. [PMID: 32817948 PMCID: PMC7430580 DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.08.242511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neutralizing agents against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed for treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19. Here, we present a strategy to rapidly identify and assemble synthetic human variable heavy (VH) domain binders with high affinity toward neutralizing epitopes without the need for high-resolution structural information. We constructed a VH-phage library and targeted a known neutralizing site, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding interface of the trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain (Spike-RBD). Using a masked selection approach, we identified 85 unique VH binders to two non-overlapping epitopes within the ACE2 binding site on Spike-RBD. This enabled us to systematically link these VH domains into multivalent and bi-paratopic formats. These multivalent and bi-paratopic VH constructs showed a marked increase in affinity to Spike (up to 600-fold) and neutralization potency (up to 1400-fold) on pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 virus when compared to the standalone VH domains. The most potent binder, a trivalent VH, neutralized authentic SARS-CoV-2 with half-minimal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 4.0 nM (180 ng/mL). A cryo-EM structure of the trivalent VH bound to Spike shows each VH domain bound an RBD at the ACE2 binding site, explaining its increased neutralization potency and confirming our original design strategy. Our results demonstrate that targeted selection and engineering campaigns using a VH-phage library can enable rapid assembly of highly avid and potent molecules towards therapeutically important protein interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colton J. Bracken
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Shion A. Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Paige Solomon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Rettko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Duy P. Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Beth Shoshana Zha
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kaitlin Schaefer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - James R. Byrnes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Irene Lui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Katarina Pance
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - QCRG Structural Biology Consortium
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Xin X. Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Kevin K. Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - James A. Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, CA
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