scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Immune Evasion from Previously Elicited Neutralizing Antibodies Is Mainly Driven by Lower Cross-Reactivity Due to Spike RBD Electrostatic Surface Changes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Ferraz ◽  
EMERSON MOREIRA ◽  
Danilo F. Coêlho ◽  
Gabriel Wallau ◽  
Roberto Lins
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Computer Modelling ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
Complete Failure ◽  
Spreading Potential

<div> <div> <div> <p>Leveraging structural data and computer modelling techniques, we investigated the variation in the binding free-energy (𝛥𝛥𝐺) profile of VOCs and VOIs SARS-CoV-2 lineages with hACE2 and with a dataset of known human nAbs. In agreement with the available experimental data, our results show only a marginal impact of VOC RBD amino acid changes to hACE2 affinity. On the other hand, we found that VOCs RBDs have a significant unfavorable 𝛥𝛥𝐺 to nAbs that can be related to changes in the electrostatic potential surface profiles, hence identifying the molecular and thermodynamical components behind SARS-CoV-2 antibody evasion. In addition, our data suggests that a close attention should be given to lineage P.3, as it likely holds a high spreading potential in a human population with rising immunity. In summary, the current observed higher transmission of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs is likely associated with a partial or complete failure of the antibody recognition and neutralization in individuals previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 non-VOC variants. These results have key implications on i. the basic understanding of VOCs emergence and maintenance; ii. on the rational design of antibody-based therapeutics; iii. vaccine efficacy and updates; and iv. may be exploited to rapidly screen immune scape worrisome lineages. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Immune Evasion from Previously Elicited Neutralizing Antibodies Is Mainly Driven by Lower Cross-Reactivity Due to Spike RBD Electrostatic Surface Changes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Ferraz ◽  
EMERSON MOREIRA ◽  
Danilo F. Coêlho ◽  
Gabriel Wallau ◽  
Roberto Lins
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Computer Modelling ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
Complete Failure ◽  
Spreading Potential

<div> <div> <div> <p>Leveraging structural data and computer modelling techniques, we investigated the variation in the binding free-energy (𝛥𝛥𝐺) profile of VOCs and VOIs SARS-CoV-2 lineages with hACE2 and with a dataset of known human nAbs. In agreement with the available experimental data, our results show only a marginal impact of VOC RBD amino acid changes to hACE2 affinity. On the other hand, we found that VOCs RBDs have a significant unfavorable 𝛥𝛥𝐺 to nAbs that can be related to changes in the electrostatic potential surface profiles, hence identifying the molecular and thermodynamical components behind SARS-CoV-2 antibody evasion. In addition, our data suggests that a close attention should be given to lineage P.3, as it likely holds a high spreading potential in a human population with rising immunity. In summary, the current observed higher transmission of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs is likely associated with a partial or complete failure of the antibody recognition and neutralization in individuals previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 non-VOC variants. These results have key implications on i. the basic understanding of VOCs emergence and maintenance; ii. on the rational design of antibody-based therapeutics; iii. vaccine efficacy and updates; and iv. may be exploited to rapidly screen immune scape worrisome lineages. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals Structural and computational insights into the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron RBD-ACE2 interaction

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
xinquan wang ◽  
Tong Wang ◽  
Jiwan Ge ◽  
Linqi Zhang ◽  
Jun Lan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Structural Comparison ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Markov State Model ◽  
Local Conformation

Since SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was reported in November 2021, it has quickly spread to many countries and outcompeted the globally dominant Delta variant in several countries. The Omicron variant contains the largest number of mutations to date, with 32 mutations located at spike (S) glycoprotein, which raised great concern for its enhanced viral fitness and immune escape[1-4]. In this study, we reported the crystal structure of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Omicron variant S glycoprotein bound to human ACE2 at a resolution of 2.6 angstrom. Structural comparison, molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation collectively identified four key mutations (S477N, G496S, Q498R and N501Y) for the enhanced binding of ACE2 by the Omicron RBD compared to the WT RBD. Representative states of the WT and Omicron RBD-ACE2 systems were identified by Markov State Model, which provides a dynamic explanation for the enhanced binding of Omicron RBD. The effects of the mutations in the RBD for antibody recognition were analyzed, especially for the S371L/S373P/S375F substitutions significantly changing the local conformation of the residing loop to deactivate several class IV neutralizing antibodies.

scholarly journals BCEPS: A Web Server to Predict Linear B Cell Epitopes with Enhanced Immunogenicity and Cross-Reactivity

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2744
Author(s):  
Alvaro Ras-Carmona ◽  
Hector F. Pelaez-Prestel ◽  
Esther M. Lafuente ◽  
Pedro A. Reche
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Web Server ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
B Cell Epitopes ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Mhc Ii ◽  
Linear B

Prediction of linear B cell epitopes is of interest for the production of antigen-specific antibodies and the design of peptide-based vaccines. Here, we present BCEPS, a web server for predicting linear B cell epitopes tailored to select epitopes that are immunogenic and capable of inducing cross-reactive antibodies with native antigens. BCEPS implements various machine learning models trained on a dataset including 555 linearized conformational B cell epitopes that were mined from antibody–antigen protein structures. The best performing model, based on a support vector machine, reached an accuracy of 75.38% ± 5.02. In an independent dataset consisting of B cell epitopes retrieved from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), this model achieved an accuracy of 67.05%. In BCEPS, predicted epitopes can be ranked according to properties such as flexibility, accessibility and hydrophilicity, and with regard to immunogenicity, as judged by their predicted presentation by MHC II molecules. BCEPS also detects if predicted epitopes are located in ectodomains of membrane proteins and if they possess N-glycosylation sites hindering antibody recognition. Finally, we exemplified the use of BCEPS in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, showing that it can identify B cell epitopes targeted by neutralizing antibodies.

scholarly journals Structural and computational insights into the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron RBD-ACE2 interaction

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinquan Wang ◽  
Jun Lan ◽  
Xinheng He ◽  
Yifei Ren ◽  
Ziyi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Energy Calculation ◽  
Structural Comparison ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Markov State Model ◽  
Local Conformation

Abstract Since SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was reported in November 2021, it has quickly spread to many countries and outcompeted the globally dominant Delta variant in several countries. The Omicron variant contains the largest number of mutations to date, with 32 mutations located at spike (S) glycoprotein, which raised great concern for its enhanced viral fitness and immune escape[1-4]. In this study, we reported the crystal structure of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of Omicron variant S glycoprotein bound to human ACE2 at a resolution of 2.6 Å. Structural comparison, molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation collectively identified four key mutations (S477N, G496S, Q498R and N501Y) for the enhanced binding of ACE2 by the Omicron RBD compared to the WT RBD. Representative states of the WT and Omicron RBD-ACE2 systems were identified by Markov State Model, which provides a dynamic explanation for the enhanced binding of Omicron RBD. The effects of the mutations in the RBD for antibody recognition were analyzed, especially for the S371L/S373P/S375F substitutions significantly changing the local conformation of the residing loop to deactivate several class IV neutralizing antibodies.

scholarly journals Aptamer BC 007’s Affinity to Specific and Less-Specific Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 932
Author(s):  
Annekathrin Haberland ◽  
Oxana Krylova ◽  
Heike Nikolenko ◽  
Peter Göttel ◽  
Andre Dallmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Plastic Plate ◽  
Calorimetric Titration ◽  
Background Signal ◽  
High Background ◽  
Specific Virus ◽  
Binding Sequence

COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory disease that is caused by the highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are essential weapons that a patient with COVID-19 has to combat the disease. When now repurposing a drug, namely an aptamer that interacts with SARS-CoV-2 proteins for COVID-19 treatment (BC 007), which is, however, a neutralizer of pathogenic autoantibodies in its original indication, the possibility of also binding and neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies must be considered. Here, the highly specific virus-neutralizing antibodies have to be distinguished from the ones that also show cross-reactivity to tissues. The last-mentioned could be the origin of the widely reported SARS-CoV-2-induced autoimmunity, which should also become a target of therapy. We, therefore, used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology to assess the binding of well-characterized publicly accessible anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (CV07-209 and CV07-270) with BC 007. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, isothermal calorimetric titration, and circular dichroism spectroscopy were additionally used to test the binding of BC 007 to DNA-binding sequence segments of these antibodies. BC 007 did not bind to the highly specific neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody but did bind to the less specific one. This, however, was a lot less compared to an autoantibody of its original indication (14.2%, range 11.0–21.5%). It was also interesting to see that the less-specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody also showed a high background signal in the ELISA (binding on NeutrAvidin-coated or activated but noncoated plastic plate). These initial experiments suggest that the risk of binding and neutralizing highly specific anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies by BC 007 should be low.

scholarly journals Next Step in Gene Delivery: Modern Approaches and Further Perspectives of AAV Tropism Modification

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Maxim A. Korneyenkov ◽  
Andrey A. Zamyatnin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Genome Organization ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Tissue Tropism ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Chemical Conjugation ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Therapy Delivery

Today, adeno-associated virus (AAV) is an extremely popular choice for gene therapy delivery. The safety profile and simplicity of the genome organization are the decisive advantages which allow us to claim that AAV is currently among the most promising vectors. Several drugs based on AAV have been approved in the USA and Europe, but AAV serotypes’ unspecific tissue tropism is still a serious limitation. In recent decades, several techniques have been developed to overcome this barrier, such as the rational design, directed evolution and chemical conjugation of targeting molecules with a capsid. Today, all of the abovementioned approaches confer the possibility to produce AAV capsids with tailored tropism, but recent data indicate that a better understanding of AAV biology and the growth of structural data may theoretically constitute a rational approach to most effectively produce highly selective and targeted AAV capsids. However, while we are still far from this goal, other approaches are still in play, despite their drawbacks and limitations.

Immune Evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern is Driven by Low Affinity to Neutralizing Antibodies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Ferraz ◽  
Emerson Moreira ◽  
Danilo F. Coêlho ◽  
Gabriel Wallau ◽  
Roberto Lins
Keyword(s):  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Class I ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
A Minor

SARS-CoV-2 VOCs immune evasion is mainly due to lower cross-reactivity from previously elicited class I/II neutralizaing antibodies, while increased affinity to hACE2 plays a minor role. Affinity between antibodies and...

scholarly journals Molecular modeling study on the drug resistance mechanism of NS5B polymerase to TMC647055

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiqun Wang ◽  
Wei Cui ◽  
Chenchen Guo ◽  
Bo-Zhen Chen ◽  
Mingjuan Ji
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Free Energy ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Binding Free Energy ◽  
Resistance Mechanism ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Free Energy Decomposition ◽  
Hcv Ns5b ◽  
Ns5b Polymerase

NS5B polymerase plays an important role in viral replication machinery. TMC647055 (TMC) is a novel and potent non-nucleoside inhibitor of the HCV NS5B polymerase. However, mutations that result in drug resistance to TMC have been reported. In this study, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, binding free energy calculations, and free energy decomposition to investigate the drug resistance mechanism of HCV to TMC resulting from L392I, P495T, P495S, and P495L mutations in NS5B polymerase. From the calculated results we determined that the decrease in the binding affinity between TMC and NS5BL392I polymerase is mainly caused by the extra methyl group at the CB atom of Ile. The polarity of the side-chain of residue 495 has no distinct influence on residue 495 binding with TMC, whereas the smaller size of the side-chain of residue 495 causes a substantial decrease in the van der Walls interaction between TMC and residue 495. Moreover, the longer length of the side-chain of residue 495 has a significant effect on the electrostatic interaction between TMC and Arg-503. Finally, we performed the same calculations and detailed analysis on other 3 mutations (L392V, P495V, and P495I). The results further confirmed our conclusions. The computational results not only reveal the drug resistance mechanism between TMC647055 and NS5B polymerase, but also provide valuable information for the rational design of more potent non-nucleoside inhibitors targeting HCV NS5B polymerase.

scholarly journals Broad cross-reactivity across sarbecoviruses exhibited by a subset of COVID-19 donor-derived neutralizing antibodies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia A. Jette ◽  
Alexander A. Cohen ◽  
Priyanthi N.P. Gnanapragasam ◽  
Frauke Muecksch ◽  
Yu E. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Antibody Therapeutics ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Cryptic Epitope ◽  
Binding Antibody ◽  
Β Sheet ◽  
Potent Neutralization

SummaryMany anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies target the ACE2-binding site on viral spike receptor-binding domains (RBDs). The most potent antibodies recognize exposed variable epitopes, often rendering them ineffective against other sarbecoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Class 4 anti-RBD antibodies against a less-exposed, but more-conserved, cryptic epitope could recognize newly-emergent zoonotic sarbecoviruses and variants, but usually show only weak neutralization potencies. We characterized two class 4 anti-RBD antibodies derived from COVID-19 donors that exhibited broad recognition and potent neutralization of zoonotic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 variants. C118-RBD and C022-RBD structures revealed CDRH3 mainchain H-bond interactions that extended an RBD β-sheet, thus reducing sensitivity to RBD sidechain changes, and epitopes that extended from the cryptic epitope to occlude ACE2 binding. A C118-spike trimer structure revealed rotated RBDs to allow cryptic epitope access and the potential for intra-spike crosslinking to increase avidity. These studies facilitate vaccine design and illustrate potential advantages of class 4 RBD-binding antibody therapeutics.

scholarly journals Molecular Determinants of μ-Conotoxin KIIIA Interaction with the Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nav1.7

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian H. Kimball ◽  
Phuong T. Nguyen ◽  
Baldomero M. Olivera ◽  
Jon T. Sack ◽  
Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy
Keyword(s):  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Molecular Probes ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
In Silico Docking ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractThe voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channel subtype Nav1.7 plays a critical role in pain signaling, making it an important drug target. Here we studied the molecular interactions between μ-conotoxin KIIIA (KIIIA) and the human Nav1.7 channel (hNav1.7). We developed a structural model of hNav1.7 using Rosetta computational modeling and performed in silico docking of KIIIA using RosettaDock to predict residues forming specific pairwise contacts between KIIIA and hNav1.7. We experimentally validated these contacts using mutant cycle analysis. Comparison between our KIIIA-hNav1.7 model and the recently published cryo-EM structure of KIIIA-hNav1.2 revealed key similarities and differences between channel subtypes with potential implications for the molecular mechanism of toxin block. Our integrative approach, combining structural data with computational modeling, experimental validation, and molecular dynamics simulations will be useful for engineering molecular probes to study Nav channel function, and for rational design of novel biologics targeting specific Nav channels.

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