Ultrapotent antibodies against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants

TLDR

Neutralizing antibodies elicited by infection or vaccination are the main defense against SARS‑CoV‑2, but emerging variants threaten to escape this immunity. The study seeks to discover antibodies that remain potent across multiple SARS‑CoV‑2 variants to aid vaccine and therapeutic development. They examined how mutations in the spike protein’s receptor‑binding domain affect ACE2 binding and antibody recognition. Four antibodies isolated from early‑outbreak convalescent donors neutralized 23 variants, including all variants of concern. The study cites Wang et al., Yuan et al., and —VV.

Abstract

Defenses against SARS-CoV-2 variants Our key defense against the COVID-19 pandemic is neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus elicited by natural infection or vaccination. Recent emerging viral variants have raised concern because of their potential to escape antibody neutralization. Wang et al . identified four antibodies from early-outbreak convalescent donors that are potent against 23 variants, including variants of concern, and characterized their binding to the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Yuan et al . examined the impact of emerging mutations in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein on binding to the host receptor ACE2 and to a range of antibodies. These studies may be helpful for developing more broadly effective vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. —VV