Polyclonal F(ab')₂ fragments of equine antibodies raised against the spike protein neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants with high potency.

ABSTRACT: We used the recombinant trimeric spike (S) glycoprotein in the prefusion conformation to immunize horses for the production of hyperimmune globulins against SARS-CoV-2. Serum antibody titers measured by ELISA were above 1:10⁶, and the neutralizing antibody titer against authentic virus (WT) was 1:14,604 (average PRNT₉₀). Plasma from immunized animals was pepsin digested to remove the Fc portion and purified, yielding an F(ab')₂ preparation with PRNT₉₀ titers 150-fold higher than the neutralizing titers in human convalescent plasma. Challenge studies were carried out in hamsters and showed the in vivo ability of equine F(ab')₂ to reduce viral load in the pulmonary tissues and significant clinical improvement determined by weight

SUBMITTER: Cunha LER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8539203 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature