RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Plant production of high affinity nanobodies that block SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with its receptor, human angiotensin converting enzyme
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.09.03.506425
DO 10.1101/2022.09.03.506425
A1 Pitino, Marco
A1 Fleites, Laura A.
A1 Shrum, Lauren
A1 Heck, Michelle
A1 Shatters, Robert G.
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/09/03/2022.09.03.506425.abstract
AB Nanobodies® (VHH antibodies), are small peptides that represent the antigen binding domain, VHH of unique single domain antibodies (heavy chain only antibodies, HcAb) derived from camelids. Here, we demonstrate production of VHH nanobodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in the solanaceous plant Nicotiana benthamiana through transient expression and their subsequent detection verified through western blot. We demonstrate that these nanobodies competitively inhibit binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain and its human receptor protein, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). We present plant production of nanobodies as an economical and scalable alternative to rapidly respond to therapeutic needs for emerging pathogens in human medicine and agriculture.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.