Antibodies targeting a quaternary site on SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein prevent viral receptor engagement by conformational locking

Lihong Liu, Ryan G. Casner, Yicheng Guo, Qian Wang, Sho Iketani, Jasper Fuk Woo Chan, Jian Yu, Bernadeta Dadonaite, Manoj S. Nair, Hiroshi Mohri, Eswar R. Reddem, Shuofeng Yuan, Vincent Kwok Man Poon, Chris Chung Sing Chan, Kwok Yung Yuen, Zizhang Sheng, Yaoxing Huang, Jesse D. Bloom, Lawrence Shapiro, David D. Ho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, with many variants evading clinically authorized antibodies. To isolate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with broadly neutralizing capacities against the virus, we screened serum samples from convalescing COVID-19 patients. We isolated two mAbs, 12-16 and 12-19, which neutralized all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested, including the XBB subvariants, and prevented infection in hamsters challenged with Omicron BA.1 intranasally. Structurally, both antibodies targeted a conserved quaternary epitope located at the interface between the N-terminal domain and subdomain 1, uncovering a site of vulnerability on SARS-CoV-2 spike. These antibodies prevented viral receptor engagement by locking the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike in the down conformation, revealing a mechanism of virus neutralization for non-RBD antibodies. Deep mutational scanning showed that SARS-CoV-2 could mutate to escape 12-19, but such mutations are rarely found in circulating viruses. Antibodies 12-16 and 12-19 hold promise as prophylactic agents for immunocompromised persons who do not respond robustly to COVID-19 vaccines.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2442-2455.e8
JournalImmunity
Volume56
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 10 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Keywords

  • N-terminal domain
  • Omicron
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • broadly neutralizing antibody
  • quaternary epitope
  • subdomain 1

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