Super-immunity by broadly protective nanobodies to sarbecoviruses

Vaccine boosters and infection can facilitate the development of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with improved potency and breadth. Here, we observed super-immunity in a camelid extensively immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). We rapidly isolated a large repertoire of specific ultrahigh-affinity nanobodies that bind strongly to all known sarbecovirus clades using integrative proteomics. These pan-sarbecovirus nanobodies (psNbs) are highly effective against SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Omicron, with the best median neutralization potency at single-digit ng/ml. Structural determinations of 13 psNbs with the SARS-CoV-2 spike or RBD revealed five epitope classes, providing insights into the mechanisms and evolution of their broad activities. The highly evolved psNbs target small, flat, and flexible epitopes that contain over 75% of conserved RBD surface residues. Their potencies are strongly and negatively correlated with the distance of the epitopes to the receptor binding sites. A highly potent, inhalable and bispecific psNb (PiN-31) was developed. Our findings inform on the development of broadly protective vaccines and therapeutics.

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Highly synergistic combinations of nanobodies that target SARS-CoV-2 and are resistant to escape

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.73027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Fred D Mast ◽

Peter C Fridy ◽

Natalia E Ketaren ◽

Junjie Wang ◽

Erica Y Jacobs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Receptor Binding ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Viral Escape ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Therapeutic Antibodies ◽

Structural Mapping ◽

Viral Neutralization ◽

Functional Assays ◽

Synergistic Combinations

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants threatens current vaccines and therapeutic antibodies and urgently demands powerful new therapeutics that can resist viral escape. We therefore generated a large nanobody repertoire to saturate the distinct and highly conserved available epitope space of SARS-CoV-2 spike, including the S1 receptor binding domain, N-terminal domain, and the S2 subunit, to identify new nanobody binding sites that may reflect novel mechanisms of viral neutralization. Structural mapping and functional assays show that indeed these highly stable monovalent nanobodies potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, display numerous neutralization mechanisms, are effective against emerging variants of concern, and are resistant to mutational escape. Rational combinations of these nanobodies that bind to distinct sites within and between spike subunits exhibit extraordinary synergy and suggest multiple tailored therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.

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Highly potent bispecific sybodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2

10.1101/2020.11.10.376822 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Justin D. Walter ◽

Cedric A.J. Hutter ◽

Alisa A. Garaeva ◽

Melanie Scherer ◽

Iwan Zimmermann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Receptor Binding ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Spike Protein ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Conformational States ◽

Global Crisis ◽

Therapeutic Applications ◽

Symmetric Complex

ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global crisis. Here, we report the generation of synthetic nanobodies, known as sybodies, against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We identified a sybody pair (Sb#15 and Sb#68) that can bind simultaneously to the RBD, and block ACE2 binding, thereby neutralizing pseudotyped and live SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Cryo-EM analyses of the spike protein in complex with both sybodies revealed symmetrical and asymmetrical conformational states. In the symmetric complex each of the three RBDs were bound by both sybodies, and adopted the up conformation. The asymmetric conformation, with three Sb#15 and two Sb#68 bound, contained one down RBD, one up-out RBD and one up RBD. Bispecific fusions of the sybodies increased the neutralization potency 100-fold, as compared to the single binders. Our work demonstrates that linking two binders that recognize spatially-discrete binding sites result in highly potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors for potential therapeutic applications.

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Versatile and multivalent nanobodies efficiently neutralize SARS-CoV-2

Science ◽

10.1126/science.abe4747 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. eabe4747 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yufei Xiang ◽

Sham Nambulli ◽

Zhengyun Xiao ◽

Heng Liu ◽

Zhe Sang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Infection ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Structural Proteomics ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

S Protein ◽

Integrative Modeling ◽

Protein Receptor ◽

Large Repertoire

Cost-effective, efficacious therapeutics are urgently needed against the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we used camelid immunization and proteomics to identify a large repertoire of highly potent neutralizing nanobodies (Nbs) to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD). We discovered Nbs with picomolar to femtomolar affinities that inhibit viral infection at sub-ng/ml concentration and determined a structure of one of the most potent in complex with RBD. Structural proteomics and integrative modeling revealed multiple distinct and non-overlapping epitopes and indicated an array of potential neutralization mechanisms. We constructed multivalent Nb constructs that achieved ultrahigh neutralization potency (IC50s as low as 0.058 ng/ml) and may prevent mutational escape. These thermostable Nbs can be rapidly produced in bulk from microbes and resist lyophilization, and aerosolization.

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Detection of binding sites on SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain by molecular dynamics simulations in mixed solvents

IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics ◽

10.1109/tcbb.2021.3076259 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Elmeri M. Jokinen ◽

Krishnasamy Gopinath ◽

Sami T. Kurkinen ◽

Olli T. Pentikainen

Keyword(s):

Molecular Dynamics ◽

Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Mixed Solvents ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Spike Protein ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Protein Receptor ◽

Dynamics Simulations

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Destabilizing the Structural Integrity of SARS-CoV2 Receptor Proteins by Curcumin Along with Hydroxychloroquine: An Insilco Approach for a Combination Therapy

10.26434/chemrxiv.12090438.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akhileshwar Srivastava ◽

Divya Singh

Keyword(s):

Binding Energy ◽

Combination Therapy ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Structural Integrity ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Proteins ◽

Main Protease ◽

The Stability ◽

Therapeutic Activities

Presently, an emerging disease (COVID-19) has been spreading across the world due to coronavirus (SARS-CoV2). For treatment of SARS-CoV2 infection, currently hydroxychloroquine has been suggested by researchers, but it has not been found enough effective against this virus. The present study based on in silico approaches was designed to enhance the therapeutic activities of hydroxychloroquine by using curcumin as an adjunct drug against SARS-CoV2 receptor proteins: main-protease and S1 receptor binding domain (RBD). The webserver (ANCHOR) showed the higher protein stability for both receptors with disordered score (<0.5). The molecular docking analysis revealed that the binding energy (-24.58 kcal/mol) of hydroxychloroquine was higher than curcumin (-20.47 kcal/mol) for receptor main-protease, whereas binding energy of curcumin (<a>-38.84</a> kcal/mol) had greater than hydroxychloroquine<a> (-35.87</a> kcal/mol) in case of S1 receptor binding domain. Therefore, this study suggested that the curcumin could be used as combination therapy along with hydroxychloroquine for disrupting the stability of SARS-CoV2 receptor proteins

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Amoxicillin Trihydrate-Clavulanate Potassium As Potential Inhibitor of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Main Protease with Strong Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD), Molecular Docking and SAR Study

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3580230 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Khedidja benarous ◽

Talia Serseg ◽

Mohamed Yousfi

Keyword(s):

Molecular Docking ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Potential Inhibitor ◽

Main Protease ◽

Amoxicillin Trihydrate ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Sar Study

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Amoxicillin and Clavulanate as Potential Multiple Effect Inhibitors of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Main Protease and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase with Strong Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD), Molecular Docking and SAR Study

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3618303 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Khedidja benarous ◽

Talia Serseg ◽

Mohamed Yousfi

Keyword(s):

Molecular Docking ◽

Rna Polymerase ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽

Multiple Effect ◽

Main Protease ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Sar Study

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Role of key point Mutations in Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526520666200804161650 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Bipin Singh

Keyword(s):

Receptor Binding ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Spike Glycoprotein ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽

Recent Outbreak ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Genomic Similarity

: The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) and its worldwide spread is posing one of the major threats to human health and the world economy. It has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 is similar to SARSCoV based on the comparison of the genome sequence. Despite the genomic similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARSCoV, the spike glycoprotein and receptor binding domain in SARS-CoV-2 shows the considerable difference compared to SARS-CoV, due to the presence of several point mutations. The analysis of receptor binding domain (RBD) from recently published 3D structures of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (Yan, R., et al. (2020); Wrapp, D., et al. (2020); Walls, A. C., et al. (2020)) highlights the contribution of a few key point mutations in RBD of spike glycoprotein and molecular basis of its efficient binding with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

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