Structural classification of neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain suggests vaccine and therapeutic strategies.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic presents an urgent health crisis. Human neutralizing antibodies (hNAbs) that target the host ACE2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike^1-5 show therapeutic promise and are being evaluated clincally^6-8. To determine structural correlates of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, we solved 8 new structures of distinct COVID-19 hNAbs⁵ in complex with SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer or RBD. Structural comparisons allowed classification into categories: (1) VH3-53 hNAbs with short CDRH3s that block ACE2 and bind only to "up" RBDs, (2) ACE2-blocking hNAbs that bind both "up" and "down" RBDs and can contact adjacent RBDs, (3) hNAbs that bind outside the ACE2 site and recognize "up" and "down" RBDs, and (4) Previously-described antibodies t

SUBMITTER: Barnes CO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7457611 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature