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Jin H, Gong Y, Cheng L, Zhu Y, Zhang Z, He Y. Susceptibility and Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants to LCB1 and Its Multivalent Derivatives. Viruses 2023; 16:36. [PMID: 38257736 PMCID: PMC10819472 DOI: 10.3390/v16010036] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
LCB1 is a computationally designed three-helix miniprotein that precisely targets the spike (S) receptor-binding motif (RBM) of SARS-CoV-2, exhibiting remarkable antiviral efficacy; however, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants could substantially compromise its neutralization effectiveness. In this study, we constructed two multivalent LCB1 fusion proteins termed LCB1T and LCB1T-Fc, and characterized their potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and authentic virus in vitro. In the inhibition of various SARS-CoV-2 variants, the two LCB1 fusion proteins exhibited markedly improved inhibitory activities compared to LCB1 as anticipated; however, it was observed that relative to the D614G mutation hosting variant, the variants Delta, Lambda, and Omicron BQ.1.1, XBB, XBB.1.5, and EG.5.1 caused various degrees of resistance to the two fusion proteins' inhibition, with XBB, XBB.1.5, and EG.5.1 variants showing high-level resistance. Moreover, we demonstrated that bat coronavirus RaTG13 and pangolin coronavirus PCoV-GD/PCoV-GX were highly sensitive to two LCB1 fusion proteins, but not LCB1, inhibition. Importantly, our findings revealed a notable decrease in the blocking capacity of the multivalent LCB1 inhibitor on the interaction between the virus's RBD/S and the cell receptor ACE2 when confronted with the XBB variant compared to WT and the Omicron BA.1 variant. In conclusion, our studies provide valuable insights into the antiviral profiling of multivalent LCB1 inhibitors and offer a promising avenue for the development of novel broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 102600, China; (H.J.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yani Gong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 102600, China; (H.J.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Lin Cheng
- Institute of Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518112, China;
| | - Yuanmei Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 102600, China; (H.J.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Institute of Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518112, China;
| | - Yuxian He
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 102600, China; (H.J.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
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Zhang H, Lv P, Jiang J, Liu Y, Yan R, Shu S, Hu B, Xiao H, Cai K, Yuan S, Li Y. Advances in developing ACE2 derivatives against SARS-CoV-2. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e369-e378. [PMID: 36934742 PMCID: PMC10019897 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00011-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Extensive immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 rendered therapeutic antibodies ineffective in the COVID-19 pandemic. Propagating SARS-CoV-2 variants are characterised by immune evasion capacity through key amino acid mutations, but can still bind human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through the spike protein and are, thus, sensitive to ACE2-mimicking decoys as inhibitors. In this Review, we examine advances in the development of ACE2 derivatives from the past 3 years, including the recombinant ACE2 proteins, ACE2-loaded extracellular vesicles, ACE2-mimicking antibodies, and peptide or mini-protein mimetics of ACE2. Several ACE2 derivatives are granted potent neutralisation efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants that rival or surpass endogenous antibodies by various auxiliary techniques such as chemical modification and practical recombinant design. The derivatives also represent enhanced production efficiency and improved bioavailability. In addition to these derivatives of ACE2, new effective therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 variants are expected to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Panjing Lv
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingrui Jiang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yahui Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruixi Yan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sainan Shu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bing Hu
- Institute of Health Inspection and Testing, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Han Xiao
- Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Cai
- Institute of Health Inspection and Testing, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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