Monoclonal antibody designed for SARS-nCoV-2 spike protein of receptor binding domain on antigenic targeted epitopes for inhibition to prevent viral entry

Mol Divers. 2023 Apr;27(2):695-708. doi: 10.1007/s11030-022-10449-x. Epub 2022 May 26.

Abstract

SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This situation has compelled many pharmaceutical R&D companies and public health research sectors to focus their efforts on developing effective therapeutics. SARS-nCoV-2 was chosen as a protein spike to targeted monoclonal antibodies and therapeutics for prevention and treatment. Deep mutational scanning created a monoclonal antibody to characterize the effects of mutations in a variable antibody fragment based on its expression levels, specificity, stability, and affinity for specific antigenic conserved epitopes to the Spike-S-Receptor Binding Domain (RBD). Improved contacts between Fv light and heavy chains and the targeted antigens of RBD could result in a highly potent neutralizing antibody (NAbs) response as well as cross-protection against other SARS-nCoV-2 strains. It undergoes multipoint core mutations that combine enhancing mutations, resulting in increased binding affinity and significantly increased stability between RBD and antibody. In addition, we improved. Structures of variable fragment (Fv) complexed with the RBD of Spike protein were subjected to our established in-silico antibody-engineering platform to obtain enhanced binding affinity to SARS-nCoV-2 and develop ability profiling. We found that the size and three-dimensional shape of epitopes significantly impacted the activity of antibodies produced against the RBD of Spike protein. Overall, because of the conformational changes between RBD and hACE2, it prevents viral entry. As a result of this in-silico study, the designed antibody can be used as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID19; Cellular immune responses; Human receptor angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (hACE2); Monoclonal antibody; Receptor binding domain (RBD); Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2); Spike (S) protein.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Viral / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Viral / pharmacology
  • COVID-19*
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • SARS-CoV-2 / metabolism
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus*
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Antibodies, Viral