A bivalent form of a RBD-specific synthetic antibody effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants

We present a bivalent Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)-specific synthetic antibody, specific for the RBD of wild-type (lineage A), developed from a non-antibody protein scaffold composed of LRR (Leucine-rich repeat) modules through phage display. We further reinforced the unique feature of the synthetic antibody by constructing a tandem dimeric form. The resulting bivalent form showed a broader neutralizing activity against the variants. The in vivo neutralizing efficacy of the bivalent synthetic antibody was confirmed using a human ACE2-expressing mouse model that significantly alleviated viral titer and lung infection. The present approach can be used to develop a synthetic antibody showing a broader neutralizing activity against a multitude of SARS-CoV-2 variants.PMID:37944822 | DOI:10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105738
Source: Antiviral Research - Category: Virology Authors: Source Type: research