scholarly journals Antibodies that potently inhibit or enhance SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 interaction isolated from synthetic single-chain antibody libraries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Beasley ◽  
Sanja Aracic ◽  
Fiona M. Gracey ◽  
Ruban Kannan ◽  
Avisa Masarati ◽  
...  

AbstractAntibodies with high affinity against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 ectodomain were identified from screens using the Retained Display™ (ReD) platform employing a 1 × 1011 clone single-chain antibody (scFv) library. Numerous unique scFv clones capable of inhibiting binding of the viral S1 ectodomain to the ACE2 receptor in vitro were characterized. To maximize avidity, selected clones were reformatted as bivalent diabodies and monoclonal antibodies (mAb). The highest affinity mAb completely neutralized live SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture for four days at a concentration of 6.7 nM, suggesting potential therapeutic and/or prophylactic use. Furthermore, scFvs were identified that greatly increased the interaction of the viral S1 trimer with the ACE2 receptor, with potential implications for vaccine development.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon Schreiber ◽  
Jiri Zahradník ◽  
Shir Marciano ◽  
Maya Shemesh ◽  
Eyal Zoler ◽  
...  

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is continually evolving, with more contagious mutations spreading rapidly. Using in vitro evolution to affinity maturate the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein towards ACE2 resulted in the more contagious mutations, S477N, E484K, and N501Y, to be among the first selected, explaining the convergent evolution of the “European” (20E-EU1), “British” (501.V1),”South African” (501.V2), and Brazilian variants (501.V3). Plotting the binding affinity to ACE2 of all RBD mutations against their incidence in the population shows a strong correlation between the two. Further in vitro evolution enhancing binding by 600-fold provides guidelines towards potentially new evolving mutations with even higher infectivity. For example, Q498R epistatic to N501Y. Nevertheless, the high-affinity RBD is also an efficient drug, inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection. The 2.9Å Cryo-EM structure of the high-affinity complex, including all rapidly spreading mutations, provides a structural basis for future drug and vaccine development and for in silico evaluation of known antibodies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiri Zahradnik ◽  
Shir Marciano ◽  
Maya Shemesh ◽  
Eyal Zoler ◽  
Jeanne Chiaravalli ◽  
...  

SARS-CoV-2 is constantly evolving, with more contagious mutations spreading rapidly. Using in vitro evolution to affinity maturate the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein towards ACE2, resulted in the more contagious mutations, S477N, E484K, and N501Y to be among the first selected. This includes the British and South African variants. Plotting the binding affinity to ACE2 of all RBD mutations against their incidence in the population shows a strong correlation between the two. Further in vitro evolution enhancing binding by 600-fold provides guidelines towards potentially new evolving mutations with even higher infectivity. For example, Q498R in combination with N501Y. This said, the high-affinity RBD is also an efficient drug, inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection. The 2.9A Cryo-EM structure of the high-affinity complex, including all rapidly spreading mutations provides structural basis for future drug and vaccine development and for in silico evaluation of known antibodies.


Author(s):  
Jiangdong Huo ◽  
Audrey Le Bas ◽  
Reinis R. Ruza ◽  
Helen M.E. Duyvesteyn ◽  
Halina Mikolajek ◽  
...  

Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 virus is more transmissible than previous coronaviruses and causes a more serious illness than seasonal flu. The SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike protein binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as a prelude to viral entry into the cell. Using a naïve llama single chain nanobody library and PCR maturation we have produced a nanobody, H11-D4, with a KD 9 nM for RBD that blocks the binding of RBD to the ACE2. Single particle cryo-electron microscopy revealed that H11-D4 binds to each of the three RBDs in the Spike trimer. The 1.8 Å crystal structure of the H11-D4 – RBD complex has illuminated the molecular interactions that drive the high affinity. H11-D4 binds to an epitope on RBD that overlaps with the ACE2 binding, explaining the blocking of ACE2 binding. The nanobody showed potent neutralising activity against live SARS-CoV-2 virus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qizhong Lu ◽  
Zongliang Zhang ◽  
Hexian Li ◽  
Kunhong Zhong ◽  
Qin Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The outbreak and pandemic of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 caused significant threaten to global public health and economic consequences. It is extremely urgent that global people must take actions to develop safe and effective preventions and therapeutics. Nanobodies, which are derived from single‑chain camelid antibodies, had shown antiviral properties in various challenge viruses. In this study, multivalent nanobodies with high affinity blocking SARS-CoV-2 spike interaction with ACE2 protein were developed. Results Totally, four specific nanobodies against spike protein and its RBD domain were screened from a naïve VHH library. Among them, Nb91-hFc and Nb3-hFc demonstrated antiviral activity by neutralizing spike pseudotyped viruses in vitro. Subsequently, multivalent nanobodies were constructed to improve the neutralizing capacity. As a result, heterodimer nanobody Nb91-Nb3-hFc exhibited the strongest RBD-binding affinity and neutralizing ability against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses with an IC50 value at approximately 1.54 nM. Conclusions The present study indicated that naïve VHH library could be used as a potential resource for rapid acquisition and exploitation of antiviral nanobodies. Heterodimer nanobody Nb91-Nb3-hFc may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of COVID-19.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Qing Zhang ◽  
Lu-Ting Yu ◽  
Pei Du ◽  
Tian-Qi Yin ◽  
Zhi-Yuan Zhang ◽  
...  

Background:Regenerating islet-derived gene family member 4 (Reg4), a well-investigated growth factor in the regenerative pancreas, has recently been reported to be highly associated with a majority of gastrointestinal cancers. Pathological hyper-expression or artificial over-expression of Reg4 causes acceleration of tumor growth, migration, and resistance to chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Until now, no method has been successfully established for eliminating the effects of Reg4 protein.Methods:This study reports the production of an engineered immunoglobin, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv-Reg4), to specifically bind Reg4 and block the bioactivity. The complementary-determining regions (CDRs) against Reg4 were assigned using MOE and ZDOCK servers. The binding affinity (KD) was determined by bio-layer interferometry (BLI). MKN45 and AGS cell proliferation was determined by Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assay.Results:The KD of scFv-Reg4 to Reg4 was determined to be 1.91×10-8. In MKN45 and AGS cell lines, scFv- Reg4 depressed Reg4-stimulated cell proliferation and the inhibitory rates were 27.7±1.5% and 17.3±2.6%, respectively. Furthermore, scFv significantly enhanced 5-FU-induced cell death, from 23.0±1.0% to 28.4±1.2% in MKN45 and 28.2±0.7% to 36.6±0.6% in AGS cells. Treatment with scFv alone could lyse cancer cells to a certain extent, but no significance has been observed.Conclusion:The single-chain antibody (scFv-Reg4) significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and synergistically enhanced the lethal effect of 5-FU. Thus, traditional chemo-/radio- therapeutics supplemented with scFv-Reg4 may provide advances in the strategy for gastrointestinal cancer treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. eabd6990
Author(s):  
Sang Il Kim ◽  
Jinsung Noh ◽  
Sujeong Kim ◽  
Younggeun Choi ◽  
Duck Kyun Yoo ◽  
...  

Stereotypic antibody clonotypes exist in healthy individuals and may provide protective immunity against viral infections by neutralization. We observed that 13 out of 17 patients with COVID-19 had stereotypic variable heavy chain (VH) antibody clonotypes directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. These antibody clonotypes were comprised of immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV)3-53 or IGHV3-66 and immunoglobulin heavy joining (IGHJ)6 genes. These clonotypes included IgM, IgG3, IgG1, IgA1, IgG2, and IgA2 subtypes and had minimal somatic mutations, which suggested swift class switching after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The different immunoglobulin heavy variable chains were paired with diverse light chains resulting in binding to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Human antibodies specific for the RBD can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting entry into host cells. We observed that one of these stereotypic neutralizing antibodies could inhibit viral replication in vitro using a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2. We also found that these VH clonotypes existed in six out of 10 healthy individuals, with IgM isotypes predominating. These findings suggest that stereotypic clonotypes can develop de novo from naïve B cells and not from memory B cells established from prior exposure to similar viruses. The expeditious and stereotypic expansion of these clonotypes may have occurred in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 because they were already present.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guofang Zhang ◽  
Yalin Cong ◽  
Guoli Cao ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Peng Yu ◽  
...  

The global emergency caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemics can only be solved with adequate preventive and therapeutic strategies, both currently missing. The electropositive Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with abundant β-sheet structure serves as target for COVID-19 therapeutic drug design. Here, we discovered that ultrathin 2D CuInP2S6 (CIPS) nanosheets as a new agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection, which also able to promote viral host elimination. CIPS exhibits extremely high and selective binding capacity with the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with consequent inhibition of virus entry and infection in ACE2-bearing cells and human airway epithelial organoids. CIPS displays nano-viscous properties in selectively binding with spike protein (KD < 1 pM) with negligible toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Further, the CIPS-bound SARS-CoV-2 was quickly phagocytosed and eliminated by macrophages, suggesting CIPS could be successfully used to capture and facilitate the virus host elimination with possibility of triggering anti-viral immunization. Thus, we propose CIPS as a promising nanodrug for future safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy, as well as for use as disinfection agent and surface coating material to constrain the SARS-CoV-2 spreading.


Antibodies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Adinarayana Kunamneni ◽  
Christian Ogaugwu ◽  
Steven Bradfute ◽  
Ravi Durvasula

Antibody ribosome display remains one of the most successful in vitro selection technologies for antibodies fifteen years after it was developed. The unique possibility of direct generation of whole proteins, particularly single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs), has facilitated the establishment of this technology as one of the foremost antibody production methods. Ribosome display has become a vital tool for efficient and low-cost production of antibodies for diagnostics due to its advantageous ability to screen large libraries and generate binders of high affinity. The remarkable flexibility of this method enables its applicability to various platforms. This review focuses on the applications of ribosome display technology in biomedical and agricultural fields in the generation of recombinant scFvs for disease diagnostics and control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Esparza ◽  
Negin P. Martin ◽  
George P. Anderson ◽  
Ellen R. Goldman ◽  
David L. Brody

AbstractThere are currently few approved effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Nanobodies are 12–15 kDa single-domain antibody fragments that can be delivered by inhalation and are amenable to relatively inexpensive large scale production compared to other biologicals. We have isolated nanobodies that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain and block spike protein interaction with the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with 1–5 nM affinity. The lead nanobody candidate, NIH-CoVnb-112, blocks SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus infection of HEK293 cells expressing human ACE2 with an EC50 of 0.3 µg/mL. NIH-CoVnb-112 retains structural integrity and potency after nebulization. Furthermore, NIH-CoVnb-112 blocks interaction between ACE2 and several high affinity variant forms of the spike protein. These nanobodies and their derivatives have therapeutic, preventative, and diagnostic potential.


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