Publications
ImmunityJun 2020 |
53
(
1
),
98-105.e5
DOI:
10.1016/j.immuni.2020.06.001

Analysis of a SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individual Reveals Development of Potent Neutralizing Antibodies with Limited Somatic Mutation

Seydoux, Emilie; Homad, Leah J; MacCamy, Anna J; Parks, K Rachael; Hurlburt, Nicholas K; Jennewein, Madeleine F; Akins, Nicholas R; Stuart, Andrew B; Wan, Yu-Hsin; Feng, Junli; Whaley, Rachael E; Singh, Suruchi; Boeckh, Michael; Cohen, Kristen W; McElrath, M Juliana; Englund, Janet A; Chu, Helen Y; Pancera, Marie; McGuire, Andrew T; Stamatatos, Leonidas
Product Used
NGS
Abstract
Antibody responses develop following SARS-CoV-2 infection, but little is known about their epitope specificities, clonality, binding affinities, epitopes, and neutralizing activity. We isolated B cells specific for the SARS-CoV-2 envelope glycoprotein spike (S) from a COVID-19-infected subject 21 days after the onset of clinical disease. 45 S-specific monoclonal antibodies were generated. They had undergone minimal somatic mutation with limited clonal expansion, and three bound the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Two antibodies neutralized SARS-CoV-2. The most potent antibody bound the RBD and prevented binding to the ACE2 receptor, while the other bound outside the RBD. Thus, most anti-S antibodies that were generated in this patient during the first weeks of COVID-19 infection were non-neutralizing and target epitopes outside the RBD. Antibodies that disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 S-ACE2 interaction can potently neutralize the virus without undergoing extensive maturation. Such antibodies have potential preventive and/or therapeutic potential and can serve as templates for vaccine design.
Product Used
NGS

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