July 23, 2020

Potent Neutralizing Antibodies Directed to Multiple Epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 Spike

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

• A large number of monoclonal antibodies that potently neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus were identified from COVID-19 cases from New York. Liu et al. report the isolation of 61 SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from 5 infected patients hospitalized with severe disease at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. Among these are 19 antibodies that potently neutralized the authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro, 9 of which exhibited exquisite potency. Epitope mapping show these antibodies are directed to the top of the viral spike, which the authors say indicates immunogenicity. Several of these monoclonal antibodies are promising candidates for clinical development as potential therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents against SARS-CoV-2. 

Liu et al. (July 22, 2020). Potent Neutralizing Antibodies Directed to Multiple Epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 Spike. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2571-7