Human antibodies found that can block multiple coronaviruses: Study

Scientists have found antibodies in the blood of certain Covid 19 donors that can block infection from a broad set of coronaviruses specifically in people who have recovered from the SARSCoV2 virus and were then vaccinatedThe researchers from Scripps Research and the University of North Carolina UNC US found this includes not only the COVID19causing SARSCoV2 but also SARSCoV1 and MERSCoVThe study published in the journal Immunity could lead to the development of a broad coronavirus vaccine and related antibody therapeutics Both could be used against future coronavirus pandemics as well as any future variants of SARSCoV2We show here that there are individual human monoclonal antibodies that can be found that protect against all three recent deadly coronaviruses SARSCoV1 SARSCoV2 and MERSCoV said study cosenior author Raiees Andrabi institute investigator at Scripps ResearchSARSCoV2 along with SARSCoV1 the cause of the 200204 SARS outbreak and MERSCoV the cause of deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome belong to a broad grouping of coronaviruses known as betacoronavirusesAlso readAt least 32 dead dozens injured after high speed trains collide in GreeceThese viruses mutate at a modestly high rate creating a significant challenge for the development of vaccines and antibody therapies against themIn the case of SARSCoV2 although existing vaccines have been very helpful in limiting the toll of disease and death from the pandemic new SARSCoV2 variants have emerged that can spread even among vaccine recipientsHowever over the past two years the team has been finding evidence that SARSCoV2 and other betacoronaviruses have a vulnerable site that does not mutate much This site which is in the S2 region or base of the viral spike protein is relatively conserved on betacoronaviruses that infect a variety of animal speciesBy contrast current SARSCoV2 vaccines mainly target the viral spike proteins relatively mutable S1 region with which the virus binds to hostcell receptorsThe S2 site plays a key role in how betacoronaviruses progress from receptorbinding to the membrane fusion that enables entry into host cells in the respiratory tractIn a study published last year the team found that some human antibodies can bind to this site on SARSCoV2 in a way that apparently disrupts viral fusion and blocks infectionThe existence of such a vulnerable site raises the possibility of targeting it to provide both longlasting and broad protection against betacoronavirusesIn the latest study the researchers made a more comprehensive search for antiS2 antibodies in blood samples from human volunteersThese volunteers were individuals who had recovered from COVID19 had been vaccinated or had recovered from COVID19 and then had been vaccinatedThe researchers found that antibodies to the vulnerable S2 site were present in the vast majority of volunteers in the latter group people who had recovered from COVID19 and then had been vaccinated but at a much lower frequency in the othersOverall the researchers identified and characterised 32 of these S2targeting antibodiesIn lab virus neutralisation studies and in viruschallenge studies with mice the researchers found that several of these antibodies provide protection of unprecedented breadth iquest not only against SARSCoV2 but also SARSCoV1 and MERSCoV betacoronavirusesIn principle a vaccination strategy that can induce such antibodies is likely to provide broad protection against a diverse spectrum of betacoronaviruses said BurtonStructural studies of several of the antibodies when bound to S2 illuminated their common binding sites and modes of binding providing key information that should aid the development of future vaccines targeting this regionTargeted rational vaccine strategies could take advantage of this molecular information of the interactions of these antibodies with the S2 domain to inform the design of panbetacoronavirus vaccines Wilson saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever