Rapid development and mass production of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing chicken egg yolk antibodies with protective efficacy in hamsters

• Published in: Biological research 2024-05, Vol.57 (1), p.24-24, Article 24
• Main Authors: Zhao, Binan, Peng, Haoran, Zhang, Yanjing, Zhang, Jie, Kong, Desheng, Cao, Sai, Li, Yan, Yang, Dan, Sun, Chuanwen, Pu, Xinyi, Zhao, Ping, Xu, Yan, Zhao, Kai, Xie, Liangzhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACE2; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Animal experiment; Animal experimentation; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens; Antiviral agents; Antiviral drugs; BIOLOGY; Chickens - immunology; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Cricetinae; Data analysis; Developing countries; Disease transmission; Egg Yolk - immunology; Eggs; Female; Hamsters; Homeopathy; IgY; Immunoglobulins - immunology; LDCs; Materia medica and therapeutics; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mesocricetus; Monoclonal antibodies; Mutation; Neutralizing assay; Pandemics; Passive immunity; Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spray; Success; Therapeutics; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viral antibodies; Viral infections; Yolk
• ISSN: 0717-6287; 0716-9760; 0717-6287
• DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00508-y

Despite the record speed of developing vaccines and therapeutics against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is not a given that such success can be secured in future pandemics. In addition, COVID-19 vaccination and application of therapeutics remain low in developing countries. Rapid and low cost mass production of antiviral IgY antibodies could be an attractive alternative or complementary option for vaccine and therapeutic development. In this article, we rapidly produced SARS-CoV-2 antigens, immunized hens and purified IgY antibodies in 2 months after the SARS-CoV-2 gene sequence became public. We further demonstrated that the IgY antibodies competitively block RBD binding to ACE2, neutralize authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus and effectively protect hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 challenge by preventing weight loss and lung pathology, representing the first comprehensive study with IgY antibodies. The process of mass production can be easily implemented in most developing countries and hence could become a new vital option in our toolbox for combating viral pandemics. This study could stimulate further studies, optimization and potential applications of IgY antibodies as therapeutics and prophylactics for human and animals.