mAbs (Dec 2022)

Nebulized delivery of a broadly neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific nanobody prevents clinical, virological, and pathological disease in a Syrian hamster model of COVID-19

  • Thomas J. Esparza,
  • Yaozong Chen,
  • Negin P. Martin,
  • Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann,
  • Richard A. Bowen,
  • William D. Tolbert,
  • Marzena Pazgier,
  • David L. Brody

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19420862.2022.2047144
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1

Abstract

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There remains an unmet need for globally deployable, low-cost therapeutics for the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Previously, we reported on the isolation and in vitro characterization of a potent single-domain nanobody, NIH-CoVnb-112, specific for the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report on the molecular basis for the observed broad in vitro neutralization capability of NIH-CoVnb-112 against variant SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. The structure of NIH-CoVnb-112 bound to SARS-CoV-2 RBD reveals a large contact surface area overlapping the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding site, which is largely unencumbered by the common RBD mutations. In an in vivo pilot study, we demonstrate effective reductions in weight loss, viral burden, and lung pathology in a Syrian hamster model of COVID-19 following nebulized delivery of NIH-CoVnb-112. These findings support the further development of NIH-CoVnb-112 as a potential adjunct preventative therapeutic for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Abbreviations: ACE2 – angiotensin converting enzyme 2BSA – buried surface areaCDR – complementary determining regionRBD – receptor binding domainRBM – receptor-binding motifSARS-CoV-2 - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

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