Researchers at Lund University have developed modified monoclonal antibodies to enhance the immune response against SARS-CoV-2. By switching from the IgG1 backbone to a more potent IgG3, these antibodies can better tag the virus for elimination by immune cells, addressing the limitations of neutralizing antibodies, particularly against emerging variants. Neutralizing antibodies typically block the virus from entering cells, but their effectiveness diminishes as the virus mutates. The current study investigates opsonizing antibodies that signal the immune system to remove the virus through opsonization—a process where antibodies mark foreign pathogens for destruction by white blood cells.
The team tested eight modified antibodies in both human cells and mice, finding that combinations of these engineered antibodies could significantly improve immune response. Notably, the engineered IgG3 antibodies displayed enhanced binding to the virus’s spike protein, facilitating better immune signaling. The study’s promising results suggest potential clinical applications for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections, including against variants that evade vaccine protection. The research signals new possibilities for creating broadly effective treatments against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants. The study has been documented in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
