Structural basis for potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and role of antibody affinity maturation

Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 27;11(1):5413. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19231-9.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we determine the X-ray crystal structure of a potent neutralizing monoclonal antibody, CV30, isolated from a patient infected with SARS-CoV-2, in complex with the receptor binding domain. The structure reveals that CV30 binds to an epitope that overlaps with the human ACE2 receptor binding motif providing a structural basis for its neutralization. CV30 also induces shedding of the S1 subunit, indicating an additional mechanism of neutralization. A germline reversion of CV30 results in a substantial reduction in both binding affinity and neutralization potential indicating the minimal somatic mutation is needed for potently neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Antibodies, Blocking / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Blocking / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antibody Affinity*
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Models, Molecular
  • Pandemics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / chemistry
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Subunits
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / chemistry
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Protein Subunits
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2