학술논문

Antibody-mediated broad sarbecovirus neutralization through ACE2 molecular mimicry
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Science. January 28, 2022, Vol. 375 Issue 6579, p449, 6 p.
Subject
B cells -- Health aspects
Enzymes -- Health aspects
Severe acute respiratory syndrome -- Health aspects
Monoclonal antibodies -- Health aspects
Coronaviruses -- Health aspects
Language
English
ISSN
0036-8075
Abstract
Understanding broadly neutralizing sarbecovirus antibody responses is key to developing countermeasures against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and future zoonotic sarbecoviruses. We describe the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody, designated S2K146, that broadly neutralizes viruses belonging to SARS-CoV- and SARS-CoV-2-related sarbecovirus clades, which use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an entry receptor. Structural and functional studies show that most of the virus residues that directly bind S2K146 are also involved in binding to ACE2. This allows the antibody to potently inhibit receptor attachment. S2K146 protects against SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant challenge in hamsters, and viral passaging experiments reveal a high barrier for emergence of escape mutants, making it a good candidate for clinical development. The conserved ACE2-binding residues present a site of vulnerability that might be leveraged for developing vaccines eliciting broad sarbecovirus immunity.