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Hwang J, Kim BK, Moon S, Park W, Kim KW, Yoon JH, Oh H, Jung S, Park Y, Kim S, Kim M, Kim S, Jung Y, Park M, Kim JH, Jung ST, Kim SJ, Kim YS, Chung WJ, Song MS, Kweon DH. Conversion of Host Cell Receptor into Virus Destructor by Immunodisc to Neutralize Diverse SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302803. [PMID: 38329411 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The decreasing efficacy of antiviral drugs due to viral mutations highlights the challenge of developing a single agent targeting multiple strains. Using host cell viral receptors as competitive inhibitors is promising, but their low potency and membrane-bound nature have limited this strategy. In this study, the authors show that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in a planar membrane patch can effectively neutralize all tested severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACE2-incorporated membrane patch implemented using nanodiscs replicated the spike-mediated membrane fusion process outside the host cell, resulting in virus lysis, extracellular RNA release, and potent antiviral activity. While neutralizing antibodies became ineffective as the SARS-CoV-2 evolved to better penetrate host cells the ACE2-incorporated nanodiscs became more potent, highlighting the advantages of using receptor-incorporated nanodiscs for antiviral purposes. ACE2-incorporated immunodisc, an Fc fusion nanodisc developed in this study, completely protected humanized mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 after prolonged retention in the airways. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of viral receptors into immunodisc transforms the entry gate into a potent virucide for all current and future variants, a concept that can be extended to different viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehyeon Hwang
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom Kyu Kim
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokoh Moon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonbeom Park
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Won Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hyeon Yoon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunseok Oh
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Center, Mvrix Inc., Anyang, 14058, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangwon Jung
- Research Center, Mvrix Inc., Anyang, 14058, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngseo Park
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhyun Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Misoo Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Soomin Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghun Jung
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Myungseo Park
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Ho Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Taek Jung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jick Kim
- Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sung Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Jae Chung
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Suk Song
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hyuk Kweon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Center, Mvrix Inc., Anyang, 14058, Republic of Korea
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2
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Llewellyn GN, Chen HY, Rogers GL, Huang X, Sell PJ, Henley JE, Cannon PM. Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors based on ACE2 receptor or engineered Spike-binding peptides. J Virol 2023; 97:e0068423. [PMID: 37555663 PMCID: PMC10506483 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00684-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to antibodies, there is interest in developing entry inhibitors that target essential receptor-binding regions of the viral Spike protein and thereby present a high bar for viral resistance. Such inhibitors could be derivatives of the viral receptor, ACE2, or peptides engineered to interact specifically with the Spike receptor-binding pocket. We compared the efficacy of a series of both types of entry inhibitors, constructed as fusions to an antibody Fc domain. Such a design can increase protein stability and act to both neutralize free virus and recruit effector functions to clear infected cells. We tested the reagents against prototype variants of SARS-CoV-2, using both Spike pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus vectors and replication-competent viruses. These analyses revealed that an optimized ACE2 derivative could neutralize all variants we tested with high efficacy. In contrast, the Spike-binding peptides had varying activities against different variants, with resistance observed in the Spike proteins from Beta, Gamma, and Omicron (BA.1 and BA.5). The resistance mapped to mutations at Spike residues K417 and N501 and could be overcome for one of the peptides by linking two copies in tandem, effectively creating a tetrameric reagent in the Fc fusion. Finally, both the optimized ACE2 and tetrameric peptide inhibitors provided some protection to human ACE2 transgenic mice challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, which typically causes death in this model within 7-9 days. IMPORTANCE The increasing resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to therapeutic antibodies has highlighted the need for new treatment options, especially in individuals who do not respond to vaccination. Receptor decoys that block viral entry are an attractive approach because of the presumed high bar to developing viral resistance. Here, we compare two entry inhibitors based on derivatives of the ACE2 receptor, or engineered peptides that bind to the receptor-binding pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. In each case, the inhibitors were fused to immunoglobulin Fc domains, which can further enhance therapeutic properties, and compared for activity against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Potent inhibition against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants was demonstrated in vitro, and even relatively low single doses of optimized reagents provided some protection in a mouse model, confirming their potential as an alternative to antibody therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- George N. Llewellyn
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hsu-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Geoffrey L. Rogers
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiaoli Huang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Philip J. Sell
- The Hastings Foundation and The Wright Foundation Laboratories, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jill E. Henley
- The Hastings Foundation and The Wright Foundation Laboratories, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paula M. Cannon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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3
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Svilenov HL, Delhommel F, Siebenmorgen T, Rührnößl F, Popowicz GM, Reiter A, Sattler M, Brockmeyer C, Buchner J. Extrinsic stabilization of antiviral ACE2-Fc fusion proteins targeting SARS-CoV-2. Commun Biol 2023; 6:386. [PMID: 37031320 PMCID: PMC10082628 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04762-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a viral receptor used by sarbecoviruses to infect cells. Fusion proteins comprising extracellular ACE2 domains and the Fc part of immunoglobulins exhibit high virus neutralization efficiency, but the structure and stability of these molecules are poorly understood. We show that although the hinge between the ACE2 and the IgG4-Fc is highly flexible, the conformational dynamics of the two ACE2 domains is restricted by their association. Interestingly, the conformational stability of the ACE2 moiety is much lower than that of the Fc part. We found that chemical compounds binding to ACE2, such as DX600 and MLN4760, can be used to strongly increase the thermal stability of the ACE2 by different mechanisms. Together, our findings reveal a general concept for stabilizing the labile receptor segments of therapeutic antiviral fusion proteins by chemical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hristo L Svilenov
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany.
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Florent Delhommel
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | - Till Siebenmorgen
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Rührnößl
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Grzegorz M Popowicz
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Michael Sattler
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Garching, 85748, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Buchner
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany.
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4
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Molecular Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Endothelial Cell Permeability and vWF Secretion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065664. [PMID: 36982738 PMCID: PMC10053386 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease COVID-19, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has become a worldwide pandemic in recent years. In addition to being a respiratory disease, COVID-19 is a ‘vascular disease’ since it causes a leaky vascular barrier and increases blood clotting by elevating von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels in the blood. In this study, we analyzed in vitro how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 induces endothelial cell (EC) permeability and its vWF secretion, and the underlying molecular mechanism for it. We showed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 receptor-binding domain (RBD) is sufficient to induce endothelial permeability and vWF-secretion through the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 in an ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)6 activation-dependent manner. However, the mutants, including those in South African and South Californian variants of SARS-CoV-2, in the spike protein did not affect its induced EC permeability and vWF secretion. In addition, we have identified a signaling cascade downstream of ACE2 for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-induced EC permeability and its vWF secretion by using pharmacological inhibitors. The knowledge gained from this study could be useful in developing novel drugs or repurposing existing drugs for treating infections of SARS-CoV-2, particularly those strains that respond poorly to the existing vaccines.
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5
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Remesh SG, Merz GE, Brilot AF, Chio US, Rizo AN, Pospiech TH, Lui I, Laurie MT, Glasgow J, Le CQ, Zhang Y, Diwanji D, Hernandez E, Lopez J, Mehmood H, Pawar KI, Pourmal S, Smith AM, Zhou F, DeRisi J, Kortemme T, Rosenberg OS, Glasgow A, Leung KK, Wells JA, Verba KA. Computational pipeline provides mechanistic understanding of Omicron variant of concern neutralizing engineered ACE2 receptor traps. Structure 2023; 31:253-264.e6. [PMID: 36805129 PMCID: PMC9936628 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, with 15 mutations in Spike receptor-binding domain (Spike-RBD), renders virtually all clinical monoclonal antibodies against WT SARS-CoV-2 ineffective. We recently engineered the SARS-CoV-2 host entry receptor, ACE2, to tightly bind WT-RBD and prevent viral entry into host cells ("receptor traps"). Here we determine cryo-EM structures of our receptor traps in complex with stabilized Spike ectodomain. We develop a multi-model pipeline combining Rosetta protein modeling software and cryo-EM to allow interface energy calculations even at limited resolution and identify interface side chains that allow for high-affinity interactions between our ACE2 receptor traps and Spike-RBD. Our structural analysis provides a mechanistic rationale for the high-affinity (0.53-4.2 nM) binding of our ACE2 receptor traps to Omicron-RBD confirmed with biolayer interferometry measurements. Finally, we show that ACE2 receptor traps potently neutralize Omicron and Delta pseudotyped viruses, providing alternative therapeutic routes to combat this evolving virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya G Remesh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Gregory E Merz
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Axel F Brilot
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Un Seng Chio
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alexandrea N Rizo
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Thomas H Pospiech
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Irene Lui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mathew T Laurie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeff Glasgow
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Chau Q Le
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Devan Diwanji
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Evelyn Hernandez
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jocelyne Lopez
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Hevatib Mehmood
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Komal Ishwar Pawar
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sergei Pourmal
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Amber M Smith
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fengbo Zhou
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joseph DeRisi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Tanja Kortemme
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; QBI, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; The University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Oren S Rosenberg
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Anum Glasgow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Kevin K Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Kliment A Verba
- QBI Coronavirus Research Group Structural Biology Consortium, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; QBI, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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6
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Li Y, Liu Z, Zeng M, El Kadiri A, Huang J, Kim A, He X, Sun J, Chen P, Wang TTY, Zhang Y, Gao B, Xie Z, Yu LL. Chemical Compositions of Clove ( Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.) Extracts and Their Potentials in Suppressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-ACE2 Binding, Inhibiting ACE2, and Scavenging Free Radicals. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14403-14413. [PMID: 36318658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c06300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is initiated by binding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells. Food factors capable of suppressing the binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2 or reducing the ACE2 availability through ACE2 inhibitions may potentially reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. In this study, the chemical compositions of clove water and ethanol extracts were investigated, along with their potentials in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 binding, reducing ACE2 availability, and scavenging free radicals. Thirty-four compounds were tentatively identified in the clove water and ethanol extracts, with six reported in clove for the first time. Clove water and ethanol extracts dose-dependently suppressed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to ACE2 and inhibited ACE2 activity. The water extract had stronger inhibitory effects than the ethanol extract on a dry weight basis. The clove water extract also had more potent free radical scavenging activities against DPPH• and ABTS•+ (536.9 and 3525.06 μmol TE/g, respectively) than the ethanol extract (58.44 and 2298.01 μmol TE/g, respectively). In contrast, the ethanol extract had greater total phenolic content (TPC) and relative HO• scavenging capacity (HOSC) values (180.03 mg GAE/g and 2181.08 μmol TE/g, respectively) than the water extract (120.12 mg GAE/g and 1483.02 μmol TE/g, respectively). The present study demonstrated the potential of clove in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Zhihao Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Melody Zeng
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Alem El Kadiri
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Jhongyan Huang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Ashley Kim
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Xiaohua He
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California 94710, United States
| | - Jianghao Sun
- Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Pei Chen
- Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Thomas T Y Wang
- Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Yaqiong Zhang
- Institute of Food and Nutraceutical Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Boyan Gao
- Institute of Food and Nutraceutical Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhuohong Xie
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Liangli Lucy Yu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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Multimeric ACE2-IgM fusions as broadly active antivirals that potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1237. [DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04193-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCoronavirus infections are a world-wide threat to human health. A promising strategy to develop a broadly active antiviral is the use of fusion proteins consisting of an antibody IgG Fc region and a human ACE2 domain to which the viral spike proteins bind. Here we create antiviral fusion proteins based on IgM scaffolds. The hexameric ACE2-IgM-Fc fusions can be efficiently produced in mammalian cells and they neutralize the infectious virus with picomolar affinity thus surpassing monomeric ACE2-IgM-Fc by up to 96-fold in potency. In addition, the ACE2-IgM fusion shows increased neutralization efficiency for the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in comparison to prototypic SARS-CoV-2. Taken together, these multimeric IgM fusions proteins are a powerful weapon to fight coronavirus infections.
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8
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Bruchelt G, Treuner J, Schmidt K. Proposal for the use of an inhalation drug containing 2-5 oligoadenylates for treatment of COVID-19. Med Hypotheses 2022; 168:110969. [PMID: 36317071 PMCID: PMC9605919 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2022.110969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Interferons (IFN), first described 1957 by Isaacs and Lindemann, are antiviral proteins generated in cells after viral infections. One of several interferon-induced effector mechanisms is the so called 2-5A / RNaseL system: Interferon is produced in the virus-affected cells and released. After binding to cell membrane receptors of adjacent cells, 2-5 A synthetase (oligoadenylate synthetase, OAS) is generated, attaches to dsRNA section areas of the viral RNA and catalyses the production of 2-5 oligoadenylates from ATP. In 2-5 oligoadenylates, several adenosine residues (3–4 and more) are combined via phosphodiester binding in the unusual 2′-5′ positions of the riboses. 2-5 oligoadenylates activate a RNaseL which degrades the viral RNA. Recently, characteristic gene mutations and other disturbances concerning the interferon system were detected in patients with severe COVID-19, leading to problems of 2-5 oligoadenylate synthesis and the activation of RNAseL. In order to circumvent these problems, we hypothesize that a direct application of 2-5 oligoadenylates, included in an inhalation spray, may be effective in treatment of severe COVID-19 infections of the respiratory system. In contrast to some other anti-COVID-19 drugs, oligoadenylates act inside the cells (like e.g. Paxlovid) and are therefore independent of cell surface mutations of the virus. For confirmation of our hypothesis, proof of concept investigations in vitro are suggested, before a possible clinical application can be considered.
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Obeng EM, Fianu I, Danquah MK. Multivalent ACE2 engineering-A promising pathway for advanced coronavirus nanomedicine development. NANO TODAY 2022; 46:101580. [PMID: 35942040 PMCID: PMC9350675 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The spread of coronavirus diseases has resulted in a clarion call to develop potent drugs and vaccines even as different strains appear beyond human prediction. An initial step that is integral to the viral entry into host cells results from an active-targeted interaction of the viral spike (S) proteins and the cell surface receptor, called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Thus, engineered ACE2 has been an interesting decoy inhibitor against emerging coronavirus infestation. This article discusses promising innovative ACE2 engineering pathways for current and emerging coronavirus therapeutic development. First, we provide a brief discussion of some ACE2-associated human coronaviruses and their cell invasion mechanism. Then, we describe and contrast the individual spike proteins and ACE2 receptor interactions, highlighting crucial hotspots across the ACE2-associated coronaviruses. Lastly, we address the importance of multivalency in ACE2 nanomedicine engineering and discuss novel approaches to develop and achieve multivalent therapeutic outcomes. Beyond coronaviruses, these approaches will serve as a paradigm to develop new and improved treatment technologies against pathogens that use ACE2 receptor for invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene M Obeng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Isaac Fianu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
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10
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Wines BD, Kurtovic L, Trist HM, Esparon S, Lopez E, Chappin K, Chan LJ, Mordant FL, Lee WS, Gherardin NA, Patel SK, Hartley GE, Pymm P, Cooney JP, Beeson JG, Godfrey DI, Burrell LM, van Zelm MC, Wheatley AK, Chung AW, Tham WH, Subbarao K, Kent SJ, Hogarth PM. Fc engineered ACE2-Fc is a potent multifunctional agent targeting SARS-CoV2. Front Immunol 2022; 13:889372. [PMID: 35967361 PMCID: PMC9369017 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.889372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Joining a function-enhanced Fc-portion of human IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 produces an antiviral decoy with strain transcending virus neutralizing activity. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and Fc-effector functions of ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, formatted with or without the ACE2 collectrin domain, were optimized by Fc-modification. The different Fc-modifications resulted in distinct effects on neutralization and effector functions. H429Y, a point mutation outside the binding sites for FcγRs or complement caused non-covalent oligomerization of the ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, abrogated FcγR interaction and enhanced SARS-CoV-2 neutralization. Another Fc mutation, H429F did not improve virus neutralization but resulted in increased C5b-C9 fixation and transformed ACE2-Fc to a potent mediator of complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) expressing cells. Furthermore, modification of the Fc-glycan enhanced cell activation via FcγRIIIa. These different immune profiles demonstrate the capacity of Fc-based agents to be engineered to optimize different mechanisms of protection for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce D. Wines
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Liriye Kurtovic
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Halina M. Trist
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandra Esparon
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ester Lopez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Klasina Chappin
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Li-Jin Chan
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Francesca L. Mordant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wen Shi Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sheila K. Patel
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gemma E. Hartley
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phillip Pymm
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James P. Cooney
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James G. Beeson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - Dale I. Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Louise M. Burrell
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Menno C. van Zelm
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Central Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Adam K. Wheatley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Amy W. Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kanta Subbarao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - P. Mark Hogarth
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: P. Mark Hogarth,
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11
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Strohl WR, Ku Z, An Z, Carroll SF, Keyt BA, Strohl LM. Passive Immunotherapy Against SARS-CoV-2: From Plasma-Based Therapy to Single Potent Antibodies in the Race to Stay Ahead of the Variants. BioDrugs 2022; 36:231-323. [PMID: 35476216 PMCID: PMC9043892 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-022-00529-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is now approaching 2 years old, with more than 440 million people infected and nearly six million dead worldwide, making it the most significant pandemic since the 1918 influenza pandemic. The severity and significance of SARS-CoV-2 was recognized immediately upon discovery, leading to innumerable companies and institutes designing and generating vaccines and therapeutic antibodies literally as soon as recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein sequence was available. Within months of the pandemic start, several antibodies had been generated, tested, and moved into clinical trials, including Eli Lilly's bamlanivimab and etesevimab, Regeneron's mixture of imdevimab and casirivimab, Vir's sotrovimab, Celltrion's regdanvimab, and Lilly's bebtelovimab. These antibodies all have now received at least Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) and some have received full approval in select countries. To date, more than three dozen antibodies or antibody combinations have been forwarded into clinical trials. These antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 all target the receptor-binding domain (RBD), with some blocking the ability of the RBD to bind human ACE2, while others bind core regions of the RBD to modulate spike stability or ability to fuse to host cell membranes. While these antibodies were being discovered and developed, new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have cropped up in real time, altering the antibody landscape on a moving basis. Over the past year, the search has widened to find antibodies capable of neutralizing the wide array of variants that have arisen, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. The recent rise and dominance of the Omicron family of variants, including the rather disparate BA.1 and BA.2 variants, demonstrate the need to continue to find new approaches to neutralize the rapidly evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus. This review highlights both convalescent plasma- and polyclonal antibody-based approaches as well as the top approximately 50 antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, their epitopes, their ability to bind to SARS-CoV-2 variants, and how they are delivered. New approaches to antibody constructs, including single domain antibodies, bispecific antibodies, IgA- and IgM-based antibodies, and modified ACE2-Fc fusion proteins, are also described. Finally, antibodies being developed for palliative care of COVID-19 disease, including the ramifications of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhiqiang Ku
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX USA
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12
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Tsai TI, Khalili JS, Gilchrist M, Waight AB, Cohen D, Zhuo S, Zhang Y, Ding M, Zhu H, Mak ANS, Zhu Y, Goulet DR. ACE2-Fc fusion protein overcomes viral escape by potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Antiviral Res 2022; 199:105271. [PMID: 35240221 PMCID: PMC8882475 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, emerged globally in early 2020 and has remained a serious public health issue. To date, although several preventative vaccines have been approved by FDA and EMA, vaccinated individuals increasingly suffer from breakthrough infections. Therapeutic antibodies may provide an alternative strategy to neutralize viral infection and treat serious cases; however, the clinical data and our experiments show that some FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies lose function against COVID-19 variants such as Omicron. Therefore, in this study, we present a novel therapeutic agent, SI-F019, an ACE2-Fc fusion protein whose neutralization efficiency is not compromised, but actually strengthened, by the mutations of dominant variants including Omicron. Comprehensive biophysical analyses revealed the mechanism of increased inhibition to be enhanced interaction of SI-F019 with all the tested spike variants, in contrast to monoclonal antibodies which tended to show weaker binding to some variants. The results imply that SI-F019 may be a broadly useful agent for treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-I Tsai
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA
| | | | - Mark Gilchrist
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA
| | | | - Daniella Cohen
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA
| | - Shi Zhuo
- Chengdu Strait Technology Industry Development Park, Wenjiang Dist., Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Chengdu Strait Technology Industry Development Park, Wenjiang Dist., Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Muran Ding
- Chengdu Strait Technology Industry Development Park, Wenjiang Dist., Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Hai Zhu
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA
| | | | - Yi Zhu
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA
| | - Dennis R Goulet
- SystImmune Inc., 15318 NE 95th St., Redmond, WA, 98052, USA.
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13
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Alfaleh MA, Zawawi A, Al-Amri SS, Hashem AM. David versus goliath: ACE2-Fc receptor traps as potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. MAbs 2022; 14:2057832. [PMID: 35380919 PMCID: PMC8986284 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2057832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies and vaccines have shown improvement in lowering viral burden and hospitalization. However, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants contain neutralizing antibody-escape mutations. Therefore, several reports have suggested the administration of recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (rACE2) as a soluble receptor trap to block SARS-CoV-2 infection and limit viral escape potential. Several strategies have been implemented to enhance the efficacy of rACE2 as a therapeutic agent. Fc fusions have been used to improve pharmacokinetics and boost the affinity and avidity of ACE2 decoys for the virus spike protein. Furthermore, the intrinsic catalytic activity of ACE2 can be eliminated by introducing point mutations on the catalytic site of ACE2 to obtain an exclusive antiviral activity. This review summarizes different evolution platforms that have been used to enhance ACE2-Fc (i.e., immunoadhesins) as potential therapeutics for the current pandemic or future outbreaks of SARS-associated betacoronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Alfaleh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia.,Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayat Zawawi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
| | - Sawsan S Al-Amri
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M Hashem
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
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