scholarly journals Effect of natural mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on spike structure, conformation, and antigenicity

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 373 (6555) ◽  
pp. eabi6226
Author(s):  
Sophie M.-C. Gobeil ◽  
Katarzyna Janowska ◽  
Shana McDowell ◽  
Katayoun Mansouri ◽  
Robert Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Up States ◽  
Antibody Resistance ◽  
Computational Analyses

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with multiple spike mutations enable increased transmission and antibody resistance. We combined cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM), binding, and computational analyses to study variant spikes, including one that was involved in transmission between minks and humans, and others that originated and spread in human populations. All variants showed increased angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor binding and increased propensity for receptor binding domain (RBD)–up states. While adaptation to mink resulted in spike destabilization, the B.1.1.7 (UK) spike balanced stabilizing and destabilizing mutations. A local destabilizing effect of the RBD E484K mutation was implicated in resistance of the B.1.1.28/P.1 (Brazil) and B.1.351 (South Africa) variants to neutralizing antibodies. Our studies revealed allosteric effects of mutations and mechanistic differences that drive either interspecies transmission or escape from antibody neutralization.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Deep Mutational Scanning Reveals the Immune-Escaping Hotspots of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Targeting Neutralizing Antibodies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keng-Chang Tsai ◽  
Yu-Ching Lee ◽  
Tien-Sheng Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Computational Analyses

The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the collapse of medical care systems and economic depression worldwide. To combat COVID-19, neutralizing antibodies have been investigated and developed. However, the evolutions (mutations) of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 enable escape from neutralization by these antibodies, further impairing recognition by the human immune system. Thus, it is critical to investigate and predict the putative mutations of RBD that escape neutralizing immune responses. Here, we employed computational analyses to comprehensively investigate the mutational effects of RBD on binding to neutralizing antibodies and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and demonstrated that the RBD residues K417, L452, L455, F456, E484, G485, F486, F490, Q493, and S494 were consistent with clinically emerging variants or experimental observations of attenuated neutralizations. We also revealed common hotspots, Y449, L455, and Y489, that exerted comparable destabilizing effects on binding to both ACE2 and neutralizing antibodies. Our results provide valuable information on the putative effects of RBD variants on interactions with neutralizing antibodies. These findings provide insights into possible evolutionary hotspots that can escape recognition by these antibodies. In addition, our study results will benefit the development and design of vaccines and antibodies to combat the newly emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Structural basis for antibody resistance to SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Cerutti ◽  
Yicheng Guo ◽  
Liu Lihong ◽  
Zhening Zhang ◽  
Liyuan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Antibody Resistance

The recently reported B.1.1.529 Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 includes 34 mutations in the spike protein relative to the Wuhan strain that initiated the COVID-19 pandemic, including 15 mutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD). Functional studies have shown omicron to substantially escape the activity of many SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies. Here we report a 3.1 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the Omicron spike protein ectodomain. The structure depicts a spike that is exclusively in the 1-RBD-up conformation with increased mobility and inter-protomer asymmetry. Many mutations cause steric clashes and/or altered interactions at antibody binding surfaces, whereas others mediate changes of the spike structure in local regions to interfere with antibody recognition. Overall, the structure of the omicron spike reveals how mutations alter its conformation and explains its extraordinary ability to evade neutralizing antibodies.

scholarly journals Structures of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 neutralizing antibodies provide insights into cocktail design against concerning variants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Du ◽  
Pulan Liu ◽  
Zhiying Zhang ◽  
Tianhe Xiao ◽  
Ayijiang Yasimayi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Humoral Antibody ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Antibody Cocktail

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 variants could seriously dampen the global effort to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, we investigated the humoral antibody responses of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent patients and vaccinees towards circulating variants, and identified a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that could efficiently neutralize the B.1.351 (Beta) variant. Here we investigate how these mAbs target the B.1.351 spike protein using cryo-electron microscopy. In particular, we show that two superpotent mAbs, BD-812 and BD-836, have non-overlapping epitopes on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike. Both block the interaction between RBD and the ACE2 receptor; and importantly, both remain fully efficacious towards the B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants. The BD-812/BD-836 pair could thus serve as an ideal antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

scholarly journals Protein Footprinting, Conformational Dynamics and Interface-Adjacent Neutralization ‘Hotspots’ in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain / Human ACE2 Interaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Narang ◽  
Matthew Balmer ◽  
D. Andrew James ◽  
Derek Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Hdx Ms

This study provides an HDX-MS based analysis of the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2. <div><br></div><div>- The data agree exactly with the X-ray co-crystal structure of this complex, but provide additional information based on shifts in dynamics that are observed just outside the interface. </div><div><br></div><div>- These dynamic changes occur specifically in regions that are the primary targets of neutralizing antibodies that target spike protein, suggesting that the neutralization mechanism may result from suppression of dynamic shifts in the spike Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) that are necessary for favorable binding thermodynamics in the spike / ACE2 interaction.</div>

scholarly journals Nanobody cocktails potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 D614G N501Y variant and protect mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (19) ◽  
pp. e2101918118
Author(s):  
Phillip Pymm ◽  
Amy Adair ◽  
Li-Jin Chan ◽  
James P. Cooney ◽  
Francesca L. Mordant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Human Receptor

Neutralizing antibodies are important for immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and as therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Here, we identified high-affinity nanobodies from alpacas immunized with coronavirus spike and receptor-binding domains (RBD) that disrupted RBD engagement with the human receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and potently neutralized SARS-CoV-2. Epitope mapping, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy revealed two distinct antigenic sites and showed two neutralizing nanobodies from different epitope classes bound simultaneously to the spike trimer. Nanobody-Fc fusions of the four most potent nanobodies blocked ACE2 engagement with RBD variants present in human populations and potently neutralized both wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the N501Y D614G variant at concentrations as low as 0.1 nM. Prophylactic administration of either single nanobody-Fc or as mixtures reduced viral loads by up to 104-fold in mice infected with the N501Y D614G SARS-CoV-2 virus. These results suggest a role for nanobody-Fc fusions as prophylactic agents against SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Targeting SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain to cells expressing CD40 improves protection to infection in convalescent macaques

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Marlin ◽  
Véronique Godot ◽  
Sylvain Cardinaud ◽  
Mathilde Galhaut ◽  
Severin Coleon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Subunit Vaccines

Abstract Controlling the circulation of the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 in the human populations requires massive vaccination campaigns. Achieving sufficient worldwide vaccination coverage will require additional approaches to first generation of approved viral vector and mRNA vaccines. Subunit vaccines have excellent safety and efficacy records and may have distinct advantages, in particular when immunizing individuals with vulnerabilities or when considering the vaccination of children and pregnant women.. We have developed a new generation of subunit vaccines with enhanced immunogenicity by the targeting of viral antigens to CD40-expressing antigen-presenting cells, thus harnessing their intrinsic immune-stimulant properties. Here, we demonstrate that targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to CD40 (αCD40.RBD) induces significant levels of specific T and B cells, with a long-term memory phenotype, in a humanized mouse model. In addition, we demonstrate that a single dose of the αCD40.RBD vaccine, injected without adjuvant, is sufficient to boost a rapid increase in neutralizing antibodies in convalescent non-human primates (NHPs) exposed six months previously to SARS-CoV-2. Such vaccination thus significantly improved protection against a new high-dose virulent challenge versus that in non-vaccinated convalescent animals. Viral dynamics modelling showed the high efficiency of the vaccine at controlling the viral dissemination.

scholarly journals Protein Footprinting, Conformational Dynamics and Interface-Adjacent Neutralization ‘Hotspots’ in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain / Human ACE2 Interaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Narang ◽  
Matthew Balmer ◽  
D. Andrew James ◽  
Derek Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Hdx Ms

This study provides an HDX-MS based analysis of the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2. <div><br></div><div>- The data agree exactly with the X-ray co-crystal structure of this complex, but provide additional information based on shifts in dynamics that are observed just outside the interface. </div><div><br></div><div>- These dynamic changes occur specifically in regions that are the primary targets of neutralizing antibodies that target spike protein, suggesting that the neutralization mechanism may result from suppression of dynamic shifts in the spike Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) that are necessary for favorable binding thermodynamics in the spike / ACE2 interaction.</div>

scholarly journals Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein G476S mutation on the interaction with human ACE-2 receptor and neutralizing antibodies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kwarteng ◽  
Ebenezer Asiedu ◽  
Augustina Angelina Sylverken ◽  
Amma Larbi ◽  
Peter Twumasi
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Similar Efficacy ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Main Target ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Binding Residues ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The G476S mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein occurs in the receptor binding domain (RBD), the region that binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2) receptor and also the main target for neutralizing antibodies. The 476S variant was first reported in the USA. Emerging evidence show that the 476S variant resists neutralization by antibodies such as S2E12 and CC6.29. The impact of the mutation on the interactions with hACE-2 receptor and the dynamics of the S-protein, has not been not fully explored. Here, we provide insights into the structure dynamics of the 476S variant and investigate the impact of the mutation on interactions with hACE-2 and selected neutralizing antibodies. We report that the mutation induces a destabilization effect in the RBD and an increased flexibility for most of the receptor binding residues. The mutation, however, does not affect the interactions with the hACE-2 receptor. Both Gly-476 and Ser-476, although located within the hACE-2 interacting residue hotspot, do not contribute to the stabilization of the RBD-hACE-2 complex. Our findings suggest that both H014 and P2P-2F6 antibodies neutralize the 476G and 476S S-proteins with similar efficacy.

Role of key point Mutations in Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bipin Singh
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Spike Glycoprotein ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Recent Outbreak ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Genomic Similarity

: The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) and its worldwide spread is posing one of the major threats to human health and the world economy. It has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 is similar to SARSCoV based on the comparison of the genome sequence. Despite the genomic similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARSCoV, the spike glycoprotein and receptor binding domain in SARS-CoV-2 shows the considerable difference compared to SARS-CoV, due to the presence of several point mutations. The analysis of receptor binding domain (RBD) from recently published 3D structures of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (Yan, R., et al. (2020); Wrapp, D., et al. (2020); Walls, A. C., et al. (2020)) highlights the contribution of a few key point mutations in RBD of spike glycoprotein and molecular basis of its efficient binding with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

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