Spike conformational and glycan heterogeneity associated with furin cleavage causes incomplete neutralization of SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 Spike - the sole neutralization target, is highly resilient to the immune pressure driving genetic evolution. While potency and breadth of neutralization are widely studied, the incomplete neutralization - the mechanism of resistance without needing genetic change - remains unexplored. Several monoclonal antibodies, although potent, showed incomplete neutralization of genetically homogeneous pseudovirus suggesting the existence of distinct spike conformations. The residual infectivity at high antibody concentration indicates a viral fraction with intrinsic resistance to the antibody. Although the published studies on spike glycosylation, structure, and conformations provide evidence of spike heterogeneity the precise mechanism for the incomplete neutralization has not been estab

SUBMITTER: Kumar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12630640 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature