Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Nanobody derived using a peptide epitope from the spike protein receptor-binding motif inhibits entry of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

January 1, 2023

Journal

The Journal of biological chemistry

Volume/Issue

299/1

ISSN

1083-351X

The emergence of new escape mutants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has escalated its penetration among the human population and has reinstated its status as a global pandemic. Therefore, developing effective antiviral therapy against emerging SARS-CoV variants and other viruses in a short period becomes essential. Blocking SARS-CoV-2 entry into human host cells by disrupting the spike glycoprotein-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interaction has already been exploited for vaccine development and monoclonal antibody therapy. Unlike the previous reports, our study used a nine-amino acid peptide from the receptor-binding motif of the spike protein as an epitope. We report the identification of an efficacious nanobody N1.2 that blocks the entry of pseudovirus-containing SARS-CoV-2 spike as the surface glycoprotein. Moreover, using mCherry fluorescence-based reporter assay, we observe a more potent neutralizing effect against both the hCoV19 (Wuhan/WIV04/2019) and the Omicron (BA.1) pseudotyped spike virus with a bivalent version of the N1.2 nanobody. In summary, our study presents a rapid and efficient methodology to use peptide sequences from a protein-receptor interaction interface as epitopes for screening nanobodies against potential pathogenic targets. We propose that this approach can also be widely extended to target other viruses and pathogens in the future.

Alternate Journal

J Biol Chem

PubMed ID

36423687

PubMed Central ID

PMC9678391

Authors

Nivya Mendon
Rayees A Ganie
Shubham Kesarwani
Drisya Dileep
Sarika Sasi
Prakash Lama
Anchal Chandra
Minhajuddin Sirajuddin

Keywords

Peptides
Virus Internalization
Single-Domain Antibodies
Humans
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Antibodies, Viral
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Epitopes