A panel of human neutralizing mAbs targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike at multiple epitopes

• Published in: Nature communications 2020-08, Vol.11 (1), p.4303-4303, Article 4303
• Main Authors: Noy-Porat, Tal, Makdasi, Efi, Alcalay, Ron, Mechaly, Adva, Levy, Yinon, Bercovich-Kinori, Adi, Zauberman, Ayelet, Tamir, Hadas, Yahalom-Ronen, Yfat, Israeli, Ma’ayan, Epstein, Eyal, Achdout, Hagit, Melamed, Sharon, Chitlaru, Theodor, Weiss, Shay, Peretz, Eldar, Rosen, Osnat, Paran, Nir, Yitzhaki, Shmuel, Shapira, Shmuel C., Israely, Tomer, Mazor, Ohad, Rosenfeld, Ronit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/1; 13/106; 13/109; 631/250/251; 631/250/255/2514; 82/80; 82/83; ACE2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Neutralizing - metabolism; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - metabolism; Betacoronavirus - immunology; Betacoronavirus - metabolism; Binding; Chlorocebus aethiops; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Domains; Epitope Mapping; Epitopes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Libraries; Lymphocytes; Monoclonal antibodies; multidisciplinary; Neutralizing; Pandemics; Peptide Library; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - metabolism; Phage display; Phages; Protein Binding; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; Receptors; SARS-CoV-2; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - chemistry; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Spikes; Vero Cells; Viral diseases; Viruses
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18159-4

The novel highly transmissible human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far, there is no approved therapeutic drug specifically targeting this emerging virus. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a panel of human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). These antibodies were selected from a phage display library constructed using peripheral circulatory lymphocytes collected from patients at the acute phase of the disease. These neutralizing antibodies are shown to recognize distinct epitopes on the viral spike RBD. A subset of the antibodies exert their inhibitory activity by abrogating binding of the RBD to the human ACE2 receptor. The human monoclonal antibodies described here represent a promising basis for the design of efficient combined post-exposure therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, Noy-Porat, Makdasi et al. report the isolation of a panel of neutralizing mAbs selected against SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) from a phage display library constructed based on patient samples collected in the acute phase of the disease, which show efficient neutralizing activities against authentic virus in vitro.