Antigenic structure of the human coronavirus OC43 spike reveals exposed and occluded neutralizing epitopes

• Published in: Nature communications 2022-05, Vol.13 (1), p.2921-2921, Article 2921
• Main Authors: Wang, Chunyan, Hesketh, Emma L., Shamorkina, Tatiana M., Li, Wentao, Franken, Peter J., Drabek, Dubravka, van Haperen, Rien, Townend, Sarah, van Kuppeveld, Frank J. M., Grosveld, Frank, Ranson, Neil A., Snijder, Joost, de Groot, Raoul J., Hurdiss, Daniel L., Bosch, Berend-Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 101/1; 101/28; 101/58; 13/109; 38/23; 42; 42/70; 631/250/2152/2153/1291; 631/326/596/2558; 82/80; 82/83; Accessibility; Antibodies; Antigens; Binding sites; Common cold; Coronaviruses; Epitopes; Evolution & development; Glycoprotein S; Glycoproteins; Herd immunity; Human populations; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immunity; Infections; multidisciplinary; Neutralizing; Protective structures; Respiratory diseases; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Trimers; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30658-0

Human coronavirus OC43 is a globally circulating common cold virus sustained by recurrent reinfections. How it persists in the population and defies existing herd immunity is unknown. Here we focus on viral glycoprotein S, the target for neutralizing antibodies, and provide an in-depth analysis of its antigenic structure. Neutralizing antibodies are directed to the sialoglycan-receptor binding site in S1 A domain, but, remarkably, also to S1 B . The latter block infection yet do not prevent sialoglycan binding. While two distinct neutralizing S1 B epitopes are readily accessible in the prefusion S trimer, other sites are occluded such that their accessibility must be subject to conformational changes in S during cell-entry. While non-neutralizing antibodies were broadly reactive against a collection of natural OC43 variants, neutralizing antibodies generally displayed restricted binding breadth. Our data provide a structure-based understanding of protective immunity and adaptive evolution for this endemic coronavirus which emerged in humans long before SARS-CoV-2. Human coronavirus OC43 causes respiratory disease and is maintained in the human population through recurring infections. Here, by extensive structural analyses, the authors provide insights into the binding sites and breadth of neutralizing antibodies against this endemic coronavirus.