Development of neutralizing monoclonal antibodics against the 'spike' protein of SARS-CoV-2
- Funded by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung [German Federal Ministry of Education and Research] (BMBF)
- Total publications:1 publications
Grant number: 01KI2040
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Key facts
Disease
COVID-19Start & end year
20202021Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$206,779.34Funder
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung [German Federal Ministry of Education and Research] (BMBF)Principal Investigator
PendingResearch Location
GermanyLead Research Institution
Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenResearch Priority Alignment
N/A
Research Category
Pathogen: natural history, transmission and diagnostics
Research Subcategory
Immunity
Special Interest Tags
N/A
Study Type
Non-Clinical
Clinical Trial Details
N/A
Broad Policy Alignment
Pending
Age Group
Not Applicable
Vulnerable Population
Not applicable
Occupations of Interest
Not applicable
Abstract
discovery - We engineer extracellular vesicles (eEVs) as antigen carriers to encompass complex membrane proteins in their correct conformation. Conformational authenticity of functional antigenic domains determines the quality of immune responses. Thus, when injected into animals such eEVs can give rise to functional antibodies with superb affinity and avidity. Here, we propose to use eEVs for the systematic generation of a panel of neutralizing antibodies directed against the surface 'spike' glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, which is considered central to the entry and fusion of this virus with all its target cells. Using the eEV approach, we also developed a virus-free platform technology that will support the functional screening of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. With this novel assay we will functionally validate the different classes of antibodies obtained from immunizations with eEVs, screen for distinct neutralizing antibodies, characterize them, and humanize and express the most promising clinical candidate in CHO cells for its further preclinical evaluation with a drug target profile to prevent or curb COVID-19 infection.
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