scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 variants resist antibody neutralization and broaden host ACE2 usage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoke Wang ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Jiwan Ge ◽  
Wenlin Ren ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Antibody Neutralization ◽  
Vaccine Protection ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Crystal Structural

AbstractNew SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge from the current global pandemic, some of which can replicate faster and with greater transmissibility and pathogenicity. In particular, UK501Y.V1 identified in UK, SA501Y.V2 in South Africa, and BR501Y.V3 in Brazil are raising serious concerns as they spread quickly and contain spike protein mutations that may facilitate escape from current antibody therapies and vaccine protection. Here, we constructed a panel of 28 SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses bearing single or combined mutations found in the spike protein of these three variants, as well as additional nine mutations that within or close by the major antigenic sites in the spike protein identified in the GISAID database. These pseudoviruses were tested against a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), including some approved for emergency use to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection, and convalescent patient plasma collected early in the pandemic. SA501Y.V2 pseudovirus was the most resistant, in magnitude and breadth, against mAbs and convalescent plasma, followed by BR501Y.V3, and then UK501Y.V1. This resistance hierarchy corresponds with Y144del and 242-244del mutations in the N-terminal domain as well as K417N/T, E484K and N501Y mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD). Crystal structural analysis of RBD carrying triple K417N-E484K-N501Y mutations found in SA501Y.V2 bound with mAb P2C-1F11 revealed a molecular basis for antibody neutralization and escape. SA501Y.V2 and BR501Y.V3 also acquired substantial ability to use mouse and mink ACE2 for entry. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate major antigenic shifts and potentially broadening the host range of SA501Y.V2 and BR501Y.V3, which pose serious challenges to our current antibody therapies and vaccine protection.

scholarly journals SAS: A Platform of Spike Antigenicity for SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Ruifang Cao ◽  
Tiantian Mao ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Daqing Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Reference Strain ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Vaccine Effectiveness ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Current Version ◽  
Antigenic Sites

Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, antigenicity concerns continue to linger with emerging mutants. As recent variants have shown decreased reactivity to previously determined monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or sera, monitoring the antigenicity change of circulating mutants is urgently needed for vaccine effectiveness. Currently, antigenic comparison is mainly carried out by immuno-binding assays. Yet, an online predicting system is highly desirable to complement the targeted experimental tests from the perspective of time and cost. Here, we provided a platform of SAS (Spike protein Antigenicity for SARS-CoV-2), enabling predicting the resistant effect of emerging variants and the dynamic coverage of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among circulating strains. When being compared to experimental results, SAS prediction obtained the consistency of 100% on 8 mAb-binding tests with detailed epitope covering mutational sites, and 80.3% on 223 anti-serum tests. Moreover, on the latest South Africa escaping strain (B.1.351), SAS predicted a significant resistance to reference strain at multiple mutated epitopes, agreeing well with the vaccine evaluation results. SAS enables auto-updating from GISAID, and the current version collects 867K GISAID strains, 15.4K unique spike (S) variants, and 28 validated and predicted epitope regions that include 339 antigenic sites. Together with the targeted immune-binding experiments, SAS may be helpful to reduce the experimental searching space, indicate the emergence and expansion of antigenic variants, and suggest the dynamic coverage of representative mAbs/vaccines among the latest circulating strains. SAS can be accessed at https://www.biosino.org/sas.

scholarly journals An infectious SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron virus escapes neutralization by several therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A VanBlargan ◽  
John M Errico ◽  
Peter Halfmann ◽  
Seth J Zost ◽  
James E. Crowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Development ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
The Impact

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic resulting in millions of deaths worldwide. Despite the development and deployment of highly effective antibody and vaccine countermeasures, rapidly-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations at key antigenic sites in the spike protein jeopardize their efficacy. Indeed, the recent emergence of the highly-transmissible B.1.1.529 Omicron variant is especially concerning because of the number of mutations, deletions, and insertions in the spike protein. Here, using a panel of anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) corresponding to those with emergency use authorization (EUA) or in advanced clinical development by Vir Biotechnology (S309, the parent mAbs of VIR-7381), AstraZeneca (COV2-2196 and COV2-2130, the parent mAbs of AZD8895 and AZD1061), Regeneron (REGN10933 and REGN10987), Lilly (LY-CoV555 and LY-CoV016), and Celltrion (CT-P59), we report the impact on neutralization of a prevailing, infectious B.1.1.529 Omicron isolate compared to a historical WA1/2020 D614G strain. Several highly neutralizing mAbs (LY-CoV555, LY-CoV016, REGN10933, REGN10987, and CT-P59) completely lost inhibitory activity against B.1.1.529 virus in both Vero-TMPRSS2 and Vero-hACE2-TMPRSS2 cells, whereas others were reduced (~12-fold decrease, COV2-2196 and COV2-2130 combination) or minimally affected (S309). Our results suggest that several, but not all, of the antibody products in clinical use will lose efficacy against the B.1.1.529 Omicron variant and related strains.

Considerable escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron to antibody neutralization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Planas ◽  
Nell Saunders ◽  
Piet Maes ◽  
Florence Guivel Benhassine ◽  
Cyril Planchais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Antibody Neutralization ◽  
Neutralizing Activity ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was first identified in November 2021 in Botswana and South Africa. It has in the meantime spread to many countries and is expected to rapidly become dominant worldwide. The lineage is characterized by the presence of about 32 mutations in the Spike, located mostly in the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the receptor binding domain (RBD), which may enhance viral fitness and allow antibody evasion. Here, we isolated an infectious Omicron virus in Belgium, from a traveller returning from Egypt. We examined its sensitivity to 9 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) clinically approved or in development, and to antibodies present in 90 sera from COVID-19 vaccine recipients or convalescent individuals. Omicron was totally or partially resistant to neutralization by all mAbs tested. Sera from Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine recipients, sampled 5 months after complete vaccination, barely inhibited Omicron. Sera from COVID-19 convalescent patients collected 6 or 12 months post symptoms displayed low or no neutralizing activity against Omicron. Administration of a booster Pfizer dose as well as vaccination of previously infected individuals generated an anti-Omicron neutralizing response, with titers 5 to 31 fold lower against Omicron than against Delta. Thus, Omicron escapes most therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and to a large extent vaccine-elicited antibodies.

scholarly journals The Impact on Infectivity and Neutralization Efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.351 Pseudovirus

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Yeong Jun Kim ◽  
Ui Soon Jang ◽  
Sandrine M. Soh ◽  
Joo-Youn Lee ◽  
Hye-Ra Lee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
The Impact

A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 lineage (first found in South Africa) has been raising global concern due to its harboring of multiple mutations in the spike that potentially increase transmissibility and yield resistance to neutralizing antibodies. We here tested infectivity and neutralization efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudoviruses bearing particular mutations of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) derived either from the Wuhan strains (referred to as D614G or with other sites) or the B.1.351 lineage (referred to as N501Y, K417N, and E484K). The three different pseudoviruses B.1.351 lineage related significantly increased infectivity compared with other mutants that indicated Wuhan strains. Interestingly, K417N and E484K mutations dramatically enhanced cell–cell fusion than N501Y even though their infectivity were similar, suggesting that K417N and E484K mutations harboring SARS-CoV-2 variant might be more transmissible than N501Y mutation containing SARS-CoV-2 variant. We also investigated the efficacy of two different monoclonal antibodies, Casirivimab and Imdevimab that neutralized SARS-CoV-2, against several kinds of pseudoviruses which indicated Wuhan or B.1.351 lineage. Remarkably, Imdevimab effectively neutralized B.1.351 lineage pseudoviruses containing N501Y, K417N, and E484K mutations, while Casirivimab partially affected them. Overall, our results underscore the importance of B.1.351 lineage SARS-CoV-2 in the viral spread and its implication for antibody efficacy.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF IMMUNE ESCAPE VARIANTS FROM ANTIBODY-BASED THERAPEUTICS AGAINST COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Focosi ◽  
Fabrizio Maggi ◽  
Massimo Franchini ◽  
Scott McConnell ◽  
Arturo Casadevall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Acid Mutations

Accelerated SARS-CoV-2 evolution under selective pressure by massive deployment of neutralizing antibody-based therapeutics is a concern with potentially severe implications for public health. We review here reports of documented immune escape after treatment with monoclonal antibodies and COVID19 convalescent plasma (CCP). While the former is mainly associated with specific single amino acid mutations at residues within the receptor-binding domain (e.g., E484K/Q, Q493R, and S494P), the few cases of immune evasion after CCP were associated with recurrent deletions within the N-terminal domain of Spike protein (e.g, delHV69-70, delLGVY141-144 and delAL243-244). Continuous genomic monitoring of non-responders is needed to better understand immune escape frequencies and fitness of emerging variants.

scholarly journals Strong evolutionary convergence of receptor-binding protein spike between COVID-19 and SARS-related coronaviruses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghua Wu
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Acid Sites ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Partner Protein ◽  
Evolutionary Convergence ◽  
Genome Level ◽  
Phenotypic Convergence

AbstractCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses (e.g., 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV) are phylogenetically distantly related, but both are capable of infecting human hosts via the same receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and cause similar clinical and pathological features, suggesting their phenotypic convergence. Yet, the molecular basis that underlies their phenotypic convergence remains unknown. Here, we used a recently developed molecular phyloecological approach to examine the molecular basis leading to their phenotypic convergence. Our genome-level analyses show that the spike protein, which is responsible for receptor binding, has undergone significant Darwinian selection along the branches related to 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV. Further examination shows an unusually high proportion of evolutionary convergent amino acid sites in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein between COVID-19 and SARS-related CoV clades, leading to the phylogenetic uniting of their RBD protein sequences. In addition to the spike protein, we also find the evolutionary convergence of its partner protein, ORF3a, suggesting their possible co-evolutionary convergence. Our results demonstrate a strong adaptive evolutionary convergence between COVID-19 and SARS-related CoV, possibly facilitating their adaptation to similar or identical receptors. Finally, it should be noted that many observed bat SARS-like CoVs that have an evolutionary convergent RBD sequence with 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV may be pre-adapted to human host receptor ACE2, and hence would be potential new coronavirus sources to infect humans in the future.

scholarly journals Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies That Target the Spike Receptor Binding Domain Confer Fc Receptor-Independent Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Syrian Hamsters

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Su ◽  
Sin Fun Sia ◽  
Aaron J. Schmitz ◽  
Traci L. Bricker ◽  
Tyler N. Starr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Fc Receptor ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Syrian Hamsters ◽  
Convalescent Phase ◽  
Main Target

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein is the main target for neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies can be elicited through immunization or passively transferred as therapeutics in the form of convalescent-phase sera or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).

scholarly journals Potent neutralizing antibodies from COVID-19 patients define multiple targets of vulnerability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J.M. Brouwer ◽  
Tom G. Caniels ◽  
Karlijn van der Straten ◽  
Jonne L. Snitselaar ◽  
Yoann Aldon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Therapeutic Measures

AbstractThe rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has a significant impact on global health, travel and economy. Therefore, preventative and therapeutic measures are urgently needed. Here, we isolated neutralizing antibodies from convalescent COVID-19 patients using a SARS-CoV-2 stabilized prefusion spike protein. Several of these antibodies were able to potently inhibit live SARS-CoV-2 infection at concentrations as low as 0.007 µg/mL, making them the most potent human SARS-CoV-2 antibodies described to date. Mapping studies revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contained multiple distinct antigenic sites, including several receptor-binding domain (RBD) epitopes as well as previously undefined non-RBD epitopes. In addition to providing guidance for vaccine design, these mAbs are promising candidates for treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Structures of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 neutralizing antibodies provide insights into cocktail design against concerning variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Du ◽  
Pulan Liu ◽  
Zhiying Zhang ◽  
Tianhe Xiao ◽  
Ayijiang Yasimayi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Humoral Antibody ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Antibody Cocktail

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 variants could seriously dampen the global effort to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, we investigated the humoral antibody responses of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent patients and vaccinees towards circulating variants, and identified a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that could efficiently neutralize the B.1.351 (Beta) variant. Here we investigate how these mAbs target the B.1.351 spike protein using cryo-electron microscopy. In particular, we show that two superpotent mAbs, BD-812 and BD-836, have non-overlapping epitopes on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike. Both block the interaction between RBD and the ACE2 receptor; and importantly, both remain fully efficacious towards the B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants. The BD-812/BD-836 pair could thus serve as an ideal antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

scholarly journals Decreased neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 global variants by therapeutic anti-spike protein monoclonal antibodies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Tada ◽  
Belinda M. Dcosta ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Ada Vaill ◽  
Wes Kazmierski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Neutralization Activity ◽  
Protein Mutations ◽  
Spike Proteins

AbstractMonoclonal antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, notably, those developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company have proven to provide protection against severe COVID-19. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with heavily mutated spike proteins raises the concern that the therapy could become less effective if any of the mutations disrupt epitopes engaged by the antibodies. In this study, we tested monoclonal antibodies REGN10933 and REGN10987 that are used in combination, for their ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351, mink cluster 5 and COH.20G/677H. We report that REGN10987 maintains most of its neutralization activity against viruses with B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and mink cluster 5 spike proteins but that REGN10933 has lost activity against B.1.351 and mink cluster 5. The failure of REGN10933 to neutralize B.1.351 is caused by the K417N and E484K mutations in the receptor binding domain; the failure to neutralize the mink cluster 5 spike protein is caused by the Y453F mutation. The REGN10933 and REGN10987 combination was 9.1-fold less potent on B.1.351 and 16.2-fold less potent on mink cluster 5, raising concerns of reduced efficacy in the treatment of patients infected with variant viruses. The results suggest that there is a need to develop additional monoclonal antibodies that are not affected by the current spike protein mutations.

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