Omicron-specific ultra-potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies targeting the N1/N2 loop of Spike N-terminal domain.

ABSTRACT: A multitude of functional mutations continue to emerge on the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants. Understanding the immunogenicity of Omicron NTD and the properties of antibodies elicited by it is crucial for comprehending the impact of NTD mutations on viral fitness and guiding vaccine design. In this study, we find that most of NTD-targeting antibodies isolated from individuals with BA.5/BF.7 breakthrough infection (BTI) are ancestral (wild-type or WT)-reactive and non-neutralizing. Surprisingly, we identified five ultra-potent neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that can only bind to Omicron but not WT NTD. Structural analysis revealed that they bind to a unique epitope on the N1/N2 loop of NTD and interact with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) vi

SUBMITTER: Niu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11520098 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature