Structure-based dual affinity optimization of a SARS-CoV-1/2 cross-reactive single-domain antibody

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 30;17(3):e0266250. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266250. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein binding to the human ACE2 receptor is the molecular event that initiates viral entry into host cells and leads to infection and virus replication. There is a need for agents blocking viral entry into host cells that are cross-reactive with emerging virus variants. VHH-72 is an anti-SARS-CoV-1 single-domain antibody that also exhibits cross-specificity with SARS-CoV-2 but with decreased binding affinity. Here we applied a structure-based approach to affinity-mature VHH-72 for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein while retaining the original affinity for SARS-CoV-1. This was achieved by employing the computational platform ADAPT in a constrained dual-affinity optimization mode as a means of broadening specificity. Select mutants designed by ADAPT were formatted as fusions with a human IgG1-Fc fragment. These mutants demonstrated improved binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein due to decreased dissociation rates. Functional testing for virus neutralization revealed improvements relative to the parental VHH72-Fc up to 10-fold using a SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped lentivirus and 20-fold against the SARS-CoV-2 authentic live virus (Wuhan variant). Binding and neutralization improvements were maintained for some other SARS-CoV-2 variants currently in circulation. These improved VHH-72 mutants are predicted to establish novel interactions with the S antigen. They will be useful, alone or as fusions with other functional modules, in the global quest for treatments of COVID-19 infections.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus*
  • Single-Domain Antibodies* / metabolism
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Single-Domain Antibodies
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants

Grants and funding

We thank the financial operational support provided by the NRC’s Pandemic Response Challenge Program.