Powerful new antibody that neutralizes all known SARS CoV 2 variants

A new, broadly neutralizing antibody developed at Boston Children's Hospital could potentially improve our ability to defend against future variants. In tests, it neutralized all currently known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including all Omicron variants.

The researchers first inserted two human gene segments into the mice, pushing their B cells to rapidly produce a diverse repertoire of humanized antibodies. They then exposed the mice to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the main protein targeted by our antibodies and current vaccines, from the original Wuhan-Hu-1 strain of the virus. In response, the modified mice produced nine lineages or "families" of humanized antibodies that bound to the spike.

The researchers then vetted these antibodies for efficacy. Antibodies in three of the nine lineages were potent neutralizers of the original Wuhan-Hu-1 virus. In particular, the SP1-77 antibody and other members of its lineage showed very broad activity, neutralizing Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and all previous and current Omicron strains.

"SP1-77 binds the spike protein at a site that so far has not been mutated in any SARS-CoV-2 variant, broadly neutralizing current variants by a novel mechanism," the researchers noted.

Ref:

Luo, Zhang, Kreutzberger et al,Science Immunology,DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.add5446,11-Aug-2022