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Andrade SA, Batalha-Carvalho JV, Curi R, Wen FH, Covas DT, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM, Moro AM. Equine Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Serum (ECIG) Binds to Mutated RBDs and N Proteins of Variants of Concern and Inhibits the Binding of RBDs to ACE-2 Receptor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:871874. [PMID: 35898497 PMCID: PMC9310548 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.871874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been around since November 2019. As of early June 2022, more than 527 million cases were diagnosed, with more than 6.0 million deaths due to this disease. Coronaviruses accumulate mutations and generate greater diversity through recombination when variants with different mutations infect the same host. Consequently, this virus is predisposed to constant and diverse mutations. The SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern/interest (VOCs/VOIs) such as Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (B.1.1.28/P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529) have quickly spread across the world. These VOCs and VOIs have accumulated mutations within the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) which interacts with the angiotensin-2 converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptor, increasing cell entry and infection. The RBD region is the main target for neutralizing antibodies; however, other notable mutations have been reported to enhance COVID-19 infectivity and lethality. Considering the urgent need for alternative therapies against this virus, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine immunoglobulin F(ab’)2, called ECIG, was developed by the Butantan Institute using the whole gamma-irradiated SARS-CoV-2 virus. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that ECIG binds to wild-type and mutated RBD, S1+S2 domains, and nucleocapsid proteins of known VOCs, including Alpha, Gamma, Beta, Delta, Delta Plus, and Omicron. Additionally, it was observed that ECIG attenuates the binding of RBD (wild-type, Beta, and Omicron) to human ACE-2, suggesting that it could prevent viral entry into the host cell. Furthermore, the ability to concomitantly bind to the wild-type and mutated nucleocapsid protein likely enhances its neutralizing activity of SARS-CoV-2. We postulate that ECIG benefits COVID-19 patients by reducing the infectivity of the original virus and existing variants and may be effective against future ones. Impacting the course of the disease, mainly in the more vulnerable, reduces infection time and limits the appearance of new variants by new recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rui Curi
- Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Immunobiological Production Section, Bioindustrial Center, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fan Hui Wen
- Immunobiological Production Section, Bioindustrial Center, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi
- Center of Excellence in New Target Discovery (CENTD), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Innovation and Development Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi, ; Ana Maria Moro,
| | - Ana Maria Moro
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Research and Development in Immunobiologicals (CeRDI), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi, ; Ana Maria Moro,
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