Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
06:08
Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
Published on: September 8, 2023
1.4K
LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants
Kathryn Westendorf1, Stefanie Žentelis1, Lingshu Wang2
1AbCellera Biologics Inc., Vancouver, BC V5Y 0A1, Canada.
Cell Reports
|May 14, 2022
Summary
A new antibody, LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab), effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron. Its conserved binding epitope suggests it could be a vital therapeutic for COVID-19, even with emerging mutations.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting SARS-CoV-2 reduce COVID-19 hospitalization risk.
- Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) impact the efficacy of existing therapeutic mAbs.
- Development of broadly neutralizing antibodies is crucial for sustained therapeutic options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific antibody with broad neutralizing activity.
- To evaluate the neutralization potency of the isolated antibody against authentic SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
- To assess the structural basis for the antibody's broad activity and its potential as a therapeutic agent.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput B cell screening to isolate SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
- Pseudovirus and authentic virus neutralization assays against various SARS-CoV-2 strains and variants.
- Structural analysis of the antibody-epitope interaction to understand binding conservation.
Main Results:
- LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) was identified as a potent SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific antibody.
- LY-CoV1404 demonstrated potent neutralization of authentic SARS-CoV-2 and multiple VOCs, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, B.1.617.2, and Omicron (B.1.1.529) and its subvariant BA.2.
- Structural analysis indicated a conserved epitope, with activity unaffected by common mutations like N501Y and N439K.
Conclusions:
- LY-CoV1404 exhibits broad and potent neutralization against a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- The conserved epitope of LY-CoV1404 suggests sustained efficacy against current and potentially future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- LY-CoV1404 represents a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 across diverse viral strains.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Subviral Agents
144
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
144
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
2.7K
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
2.7K