Chinese scientists have discovered a neutralizing monoclonal antibody 35B5, which is suitable as the basis for a universal vaccine against all SARS-COV-2 coronaivirus strains. It helped researchers to find a vulnerable point in the coronavirus itself, which is not subject to dangerous mutations. This is reported in the preprint of articles published in the Biorxiv repository.
Antibody 35B5, like all neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAB), is aimed at receptor-binding domain (RBD) coronavirus SARS-COV-2. RBD is a functionally important part of the S-protein attached to the ACE2 cell receptor in various tissues and human organs. It is known that the concerns of the strains of coronavirus reduce the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies and approved vaccines.
However, researchers demonstrated that MAB 35B5 effectively neutralizes SARS-COV-2 wild-type SARS-COV and causing strains, including option B.1.617.2 (Delta), both in laboratory conditions and inside the living organism. Cryo-electron microscopy showed that 35B5 neutralizes SARS-COV-2, affecting a unique epitope – a plot that is the immediate target for antibodies.
This epitope differs from the rest of the receptor-binding domain in that it does not occur in the mutations, characteristic of the emergence of stimulus concern. Thus, this component of the coronavirus can become a “target” for universal vaccines.