As of December 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains global emergency and novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Here we describe human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies (76clAbs) that block an epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein essential for ACE2-mediated entry into cells. 76clAbs neutralize the delta variant and other variants being monitored (VBMs) and inhibit spike-mediated pulmonary cell-cell fusion, a critical feature of COVID-19 pathology. In two independent animal models, intranasal administration counteracted the infection. Due to high efficiency, remarkable stability, resilience to nebulization and low cost of production, 76clAbs may become a relevant tool for rapid, self-administrable early intervention in SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects independently of their immune status.
Human inhalable antibody fragments neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants for COVID-19 therapy / Minenkova, O., Santapaola, D., Milazzo, F.M., Anastasi, A.M., Battistuzzi, G., Chiapparino, C., Rosi, A., Gritti, G., Borleri, G., Rambaldi, A., Dental, C., Viollet, C., Pagano, B., Salvini, L., Marra, E., Luberto, L., Rossi, A., Riccio, A., Pich, E.M., Santoro, M.G., et al.. - In: MOLECULAR THERAPY. - ISSN 1525-0016. - 30:5(2022), pp. 1979-1993. [10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.013]
Human inhalable antibody fragments neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants for COVID-19 therapy
Pagano, Bruno;
2022
Abstract
As of December 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains global emergency and novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Here we describe human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies (76clAbs) that block an epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein essential for ACE2-mediated entry into cells. 76clAbs neutralize the delta variant and other variants being monitored (VBMs) and inhibit spike-mediated pulmonary cell-cell fusion, a critical feature of COVID-19 pathology. In two independent animal models, intranasal administration counteracted the infection. Due to high efficiency, remarkable stability, resilience to nebulization and low cost of production, 76clAbs may become a relevant tool for rapid, self-administrable early intervention in SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects independently of their immune status.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
