Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are specific to SARS-CoV-2 can be useful in diagnosing, preventing, and treating the coronavirus (COVID-19) illness. Strategies for the high-throughput and rapid isolation of these potent neutralizing antibodies are critical toward the development of therapeutically targeting COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases. In the present study, a single B-cell cloning method was used to screen SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) specific, high affinity, and neutralizing mAbs from patients’ blood samples. An RBD-specific antibody, SAR03, was discovered that showed high binding (ELISA and SPR) and neutralizing activity (competitive ELISA and pseudovirus-based reporter assay) against Sars-CoV-2. Mechanistic studies on human cells revealed that SAR03 competes with the ACE-2 receptor for binding with the RBD domain (S1 subunit) present in the spike protein of Sars-CoV-2. This study highlights the potential of the single B cell cloning method for the rapid and efficient screening of high-affinity and effective neutralizing antibodies for Sars-CoV-2 and other emerging infectious diseases.
Highlights
Single B-cell cloning is a high-throughput and efficient method of generating high affinity neutralizing antibodies
Single B-cell cloning method was used to screen SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) specific, high affinity, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from patient’s blood samples.
An RBD-specific antibody, SAR03, was discovered that showed high binding and neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Abbreviations
- Sars-CoV-2
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
- RBD
- Receptor-binding domain
- ELISA
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- SPR
- Surface plasmon resonance
- mAbs
- Monoclonal antibodies
- BCR
- B cell receptor
- PBMC
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- ACE-2
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- IgG
- Immunoglobulin
- FACS
- Fluorescence-activated cell sorting
- PCR
- Polymerase chain reaction