An ACE2-Based Bimodular Fusion Protein Enables Reorientation of Endogenous Anti–Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies Toward SARS-CoV-2 Spike

Archive ouverte

Chêne, Arnaud | Desrames, Alexandra | Tomlinson, Alice | Ruffié, Claude | Tangy, Frédéric | Gamain, Benoît

Edité par CCSD ; Oxford University Press -

International audience. Abstract The use of soluble recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (rACE2) as a decoy capable of blocking SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells has been envisaged as a therapeutic strategy to reduce viral loads in patients with severe COVID-19. We engineered a novel form of rACE2, fused to the Epstein-Barr virus antigen P18F3 (rACE2-P18F3), to reorient a preexisting humoral response toward Epstein-Barr virus against SARS-CoV-2 particles. Recombinant ACE2-P18F3 was able to bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, neutralize viral entry into cells, and promote the phagocytosis of spheres coated with different spike variants by monocytic cells. The results position rACE2-P18F3 as a promising therapeutic candidate to universally block coronavirus cell entry and clear viral particles.

• Description
• Sujet/Public
• Outil
• Outil d'anticipation
• Mémoire et thèse
• Gestion