Deciphering a reliable synergistic bispecific strategy of rescuing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 escape variants, including BA.2.86, EG.5.1, and JN.1.
Tong, Z., Tong, J., Lei, W., Xie, Y., Cui, Y., Jia, G., Li, S., Zhang, Z., Cheng, Z., Xing, X., Ma, H., Deng, L., Zhang, R., Zhao, X., Liu, K., Wang, Q., Qi, J., Huang, H., Song, R., Su, Z., Wu, G., Lou, J., Gao, G.F.(2024) Cell Rep 43: 114338-114338
- PubMed: 38850530 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114338
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8XSE, 8XSF, 8XSI, 8XSJ, 8XSL, 8Y0Y - PubMed Abstract: 
The game between therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and continuously emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has favored the virus, as most therapeutic mAbs have been evaded. Addressing this challenge, we systematically explored a reproducible bispecific antibody (bsAb)-dependent synergistic effect in this study. It could effectively restore the neutralizing activity of the bsAb when any of its single mAbs is escaped by variants. This synergy is primarily attributed to the binding angle of receptor-binding domain (RBD)-5, facilitating inter-spike cross-linking and promoting cryptic epitope exposure that classical antibody cocktails cannot achieve. Furthermore, RBD-5 with RBD-2, RBD-6, and RBD-7, alongside RBD-8, also exhibit significantly enhanced effects. This study not only shifts the paradigm in understanding antibody interactions but paves the way for developing more effective therapeutic antibodies against rapidly mutating SARS-CoV-2, with Dia-19 already showing promise against emerging variants like BA.2.86, EG.5.1, and JN.1.
Organizational Affiliation: 
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Xinhua Road, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, China.