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Svilenov, H.L.* ; Sacherl, J. ; Reiter, A.* ; Wolff, L.S. ; Cheng, C.-C. ; Stern, M.* ; Grass, V. ; Feuerherd, M. ; Wachs, F.P.* ; Simonavicius, N.* ; Pippig, S.* ; Wolschin, F.* ; Keppler, O.T.* ; Buchner, J.* ; Brockmeyer, C.* ; Protzer, U.

Picomolar inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by an engineered ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion protein.

Antiviral Res. 196:105197 (2021)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI PMC
Open Access Gold (Paid Option)
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells after binding through its spike glycoprotein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Soluble ACE2 ectodomains bind and neutralize the virus, yet their short in vivo half-live limits their therapeutic use. This limitation can be overcome by fusing the fragment crystallizable (Fc) part of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the ACE2 ectodomain, but this bears the risk of Fc-receptor activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here, we describe optimized ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion constructs that avoid Fc-receptor activation, preserve the desired ACE2 enzymatic activity and show promising pharmaceutical properties. The engineered ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion proteins neutralize the original SARS-CoV, pandemic SARS-CoV-2 as well as the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 alpha, beta and delta variants of concern. Importantly, these variants of concern are inhibited at picomolar concentrations proving that ACE2-IgG4 maintains – in contrast to therapeutic antibodies - its full antiviral potential. Thus, ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion proteins are promising candidate anti-antivirals to combat the current and future pandemics.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Antiviral Drug ; Antiviral Therapy ; Covid-19 ; Entry Inhibitor ; Receptor Trap; Angiotensin-converting Enzyme; Coronavirus; Ace2; Receptor; Fcrn; Regulator; Spike
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0166-3542
e-ISSN 1872-9096
Journal Antiviral Research
Quellenangaben Volume: 196, Issue: , Pages: , Article Number: 105197 Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Amsterdam
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Virology (VIRO)
Grants AZ-1459-20C
Peter und Traudl Engelhorn Stiftung
FOR-COVID network - Ministry of Science and Arts (StMWK) of the State of Bavaria
President's fund of the Helmholtz Association (CoViPa)
Bayerische Forschungsstiftung (Formycon AG, TUM)