A noncompeting pair of human neutralizing antibodies block COVID-19 virus binding to its receptor ACE2
14 May, 2020Abstract
Neutralizing antibodies could be antivirals against COVID-19 pandemics. Here, we report isolation of four
human-origin monoclonal antibodies from a convalescent patient, all of which display neutralization
abilities. B38 and H4 block the binding between virus S-protein RBD and cellular receptor ACE2. A
competition assay indicates their different epitopes on the RBD, making them a potential virus-targeting
MAb-pair to avoid immune escape in future clinical applications. Moreover, a therapeutic study in a mouse
model validated that these antibodies can reduce virus titers in infected lungs. The RBD-B38 complex
structure revealed that most residues on the epitope overlap with the RBD-ACE2 binding interface,
explaining the blocking effect and neutralizing capacity. Our results highlight the promise of antibodybased therapeutics and provide a structural basis for rational vaccine design.