US researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy to reveal the structural details of the epitope on the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ spike protein, a targetable weak spot. This particular epitope has survived the mutational evolution of the virus. An antibody fragment called V H Ab6 was found to neutralize the virus by attaching to this epitope, a vulnerable site present in the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa, Epsilon, and Omicron variants and subvariants BA.1, BA.2 .
This attachment prevents the virus from binding with the human ACE2 cell receptor and thereby entering the cell. V H Ab6 is distinguished from the previously reported antibodies by its unique angle of approach and binding mode involving multiple V H scaffold-receptor binding domain contacts. Its small size makes it an attractive therapeutic modality to achieve enhanced tissue penetration compared to conventional monoclonal…
