Neutralizing antibodies that target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are among the most promising approaches against COVID-191,2. A bispecific IgG1-like molecule (CoV-X2) has been developed on the basis of C121 and C135, two antibodies derived from donors who had recovered from COVID-193. Here we show that CoV-X2 simultaneously binds two independent sites on the RBD and, unlike its parental antibodies, prevents detectable spike binding to the cellular receptor of the virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, CoV-X2 neutralizes wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern, as well as escape mutants generated by the parental monoclonal antibodies. We also found that in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection with lung inflammation, CoV-X2 protects mice from disease and suppresses viral escape. Thus, the simultaneous targeting of non-overlapping RBD epitopes by IgG-like bispecific antibodies is feasible and effective, and combines the advantages of antibody cocktails with those of single-molecule approaches.
- MeSH
- angiotensin konvertující enzym 2 antagonisté a inhibitory genetika metabolismus MeSH
- COVID-19 imunologie prevence a kontrola virologie MeSH
- Dependovirus genetika MeSH
- epitopy B-lymfocytární chemie imunologie MeSH
- farmakoterapie COVID-19 MeSH
- glykoprotein S, koronavirus antagonisté a inhibitory chemie imunologie MeSH
- imunitní únik genetika MeSH
- imunoglobulin G imunologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- monoklonální protilátky imunologie MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neutralizující protilátky imunologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- protilátky bispecifické imunologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 genetika imunologie MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH