Robust SARS-CoV-2 infection in nasal turbinates after treatment with systemic neutralizing antibodies

Dongyan Zhou, Jasper Fuk Woo Chan, Biao Zhou, Runhong Zhou, Shuang Li, Sisi Shan, Li Liu, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Serena J. Chen, Chris Chung Sing Chan, Haoran Xu, Vincent Kwok Man Poon, Shuofeng Yuan, Cun Li, Kenn Ka Heng Chik, Chris Chun Yiu Chan, Jianli Cao, Chun Yin Chan, Ka Yi Kwan, Zhenglong DuThomas Tsz Kan Lau, Qi Zhang, Jie Zhou, Kelvin Kai Wang To, Linqi Zhang, David D. Ho, Kwok Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is characterized by a burst in the upper respiratory portal for high transmissibility. To determine human neutralizing antibodies (HuNAbs) for entry protection, we tested three potent HuNAbs (IC50 range, 0.0007–0.35 μg/mL) against live SARS-CoV-2 infection in the golden Syrian hamster model. These HuNAbs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection by competing with human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 for binding to the viral receptor binding domain (RBD). Prophylactic intraperitoneal or intranasal injection of individual HuNAb or DNA vaccination significantly reduces infection in the lungs but not in the nasal turbinates of hamsters intranasally challenged with SARS-CoV-2. Although postchallenge HuNAb therapy suppresses viral loads and lung damage, robust infection is observed in nasal turbinates treated within 1–3 days. Our findings demonstrate that systemic HuNAb suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication and injury in lungs; however, robust viral infection in nasal turbinate may outcompete the antibody with significant implications to subprotection, reinfection, and vaccine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)551-563.e5
JournalCell Host and Microbe
Volume29
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 14 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • human neutralizing antibody
  • lung injury
  • nasal turbinate
  • phage display
  • receptor binding domain
  • upper respiratory tract

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