A novel plant-made monoclonal antibody enhances the synergetic potency of an antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Collin Jugler, Haiyan Sun, Katherine Nguyen, Roman Palt, Mitchell Felder, Herta Steinkellner, Qiang Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study describes a novel, neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), 11D7, discovered by mouse immunization and hybridoma generation, against the parental Wuhan-Hu-1 RBD of SARS-CoV-2. We further developed this mAb into a chimeric human IgG and recombinantly expressed it in plants to produce a mAb with human-like, highly homogenous N-linked glycans that has potential to impart greater potency and safety as a therapeutic. The epitope of 11D7 was mapped by competitive binding with well-characterized mAbs, suggesting that it is a Class 4 RBD-binding mAb that binds to the RBD outside the ACE2 binding site. Of note, 11D7 maintains recognition against the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) RBD, as well neutralizing activity. We also provide evidence that this novel mAb may be useful in providing additional synergy to established antibody cocktails, such as Evusheld™ containing the antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab, against the Omicron variant. Taken together, 11D7 is a unique mAb that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 through a mechanism that is not typical among developed therapeutic mAbs and by being produced in ΔXFT Nicotiana benthamiana plants, highlights the potential of plants to be an economic and safety-friendly alternative platform for generating mAbs to address the evolving SARS-CoV-2 crisis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)549-559
Number of pages11
JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Antibody cocktail
  • COVID-19
  • Monoclonal antibody (mAb)
  • Neutralization synergy
  • Plant-made antibody
  • Variants of Concern

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Plant Science

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