Potent neutralizing antibodies from COVID-19 patients define multiple targets of vulnerability

Philip J M Brouwer, Tom G Caniels, Karlijn van der Straten, Jonne L Snitselaar, Yoann Aldon, Sandhya Bangaru, Jonathan L Torres, Nisreen M A Okba, Mathieu Claireaux, Gius Kerster, Arthur E H Bentlage, Marlies M van Haaren, Denise Guerra, Judith A Burger, Edith E Schermer, Kirsten D Verheul, Niels van der Velde, Alex van der Kooi, Jelle van Schooten, Mariëlle J van BreemenTom P L Bijl, Kwinten Sliepen, Aafke Aartse, Ronald Derking, Ilja Bontjer, Neeltje A Kootstra, W Joost Wiersinga, Gestur Vidarsson, Bart L Haagmans, Andrew B Ward, Godelieve J de Bree, Rogier W Sanders, Marit J van Gils

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a large impact on global health, travel, and economy. Therefore, preventative and therapeutic measures are urgently needed. Here, we isolated monoclonal antibodies from three convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using a SARS-CoV-2 stabilized prefusion spike protein. These antibodies had low levels of somatic hypermutation and showed a strong enrichment in VH1-69, VH3-30-3, and VH1-24 gene usage. A subset of the antibodies was able to potently inhibit authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection at a concentration as low as 0.007 micrograms per milliliter. Competition and electron microscopy studies illustrate that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains multiple distinct antigenic sites, including several receptor-binding domain (RBD) epitopes as well as non-RBD epitopes. In addition to providing guidance for vaccine design, the antibodies described here are promising candidates for COVID-19 treatment and prevention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)643-650
Number of pages8
JournalScience (New York, N.Y.)
Volume369
Issue number6504
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Aug 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
  • Antibodies, Viral/blood
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antigens, Viral/immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
  • Betacoronavirus/immunology
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies/immunology
  • COVID-19
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coronavirus Infections/immunology
  • Epitopes/immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics/prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral/immunology
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs/immunology
  • Receptors, Coronavirus
  • Receptors, Virus/metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry

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