Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection
10:25

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies using High-Throughput Fluorescent Imaging of Pseudovirus Infection

Published on: June 5, 2021

4.7K

A novel ACE2 decoy for both neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants and killing of infected cells

Alexandra Kegler1, Laura Drewitz1, Claudia Arndt1,2

  • 1Department of Radioimmunology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.

Frontiers in Immunology
|June 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

A new immunotherapeutic drug based on ACE2 can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and clear infected cells. This novel ACE2 decoy shows promise for improving COVID-19 treatment against evolving variants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in significant global mortality.
  • Rapid viral evolution necessitates the development of effective treatments against emerging variants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a novel immunotherapeutic drug for COVID-19 treatment.
  • To assess the drug's efficacy in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and clearing infected cells.

Main Methods:

  • Development of an ACE2 decoy-based immunotherapeutic agent.
  • In vitro and in vivo testing for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization.
  • Application of the ACE2 decoy in UniMAB and UniCAR platforms for immune cell retargeting.

Main Results:

  • The novel ACE2 decoy demonstrated effective neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in animal models.
  • The modified ACE2 decoy successfully facilitated the clearance of virus-infected cells.
  • The drug was successfully applied in modular platforms for retargeting immune effector cells.

Conclusions:

  • The developed ACE2 decoy represents a promising therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.
  • This novel immunotherapeutic approach has the potential to improve treatment outcomes for SARS-CoV-2 infections.
  • Further clinical applications are anticipated for this innovative ACE2 decoy therapy.
Keywords:
ACE2 decoyCOVID-19SARS–CoV–2T-cell based immunotherapyadapter CAR platformbispecific antibody

More Related Videos

Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance13:00

Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance

Published on: June 14, 2022

2.4K
Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Virus Interactions with Pseudotyped Viruses05:49

Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Virus Interactions with Pseudotyped Viruses

Published on: November 21, 2023

1.8K

Related Concept Videos

RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Coronavirus01:29

Coronavirus

Coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), are enveloped viruses characterized by their single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and helical nucleocapsid structure. The hallmark of these viruses is their club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins that protrude from the viral envelope, facilitating attachment to host cells. Typically, coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory tract, often causing mild or asymptomatic disease. However, certain strains like...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors01:22

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...