Author:
Robbiani Davide F.,Gaebler Christian,Muecksch Frauke,Lorenzi Julio C. C.,Wang Zijun,Cho Alice,Agudelo Marianna,Barnes Christopher O.,Gazumyan Anna,Finkin Shlomo,Hagglof Thomas,Oliveira Thiago Y.,Viant Charlotte,Hurley Arlene,Hoffmann Hans-Heinrich,Millard Katrina G.,Kost Rhonda G.,Cipolla Melissa,Gordon Kristie,Bianchini Filippo,Chen Spencer T.,Ramos Victor,Patel Roshni,Dizon Juan,Shimeliovich Irina,Mendoza Pilar,Hartweger Harald,Nogueira Lilian,Pack Maggi,Horowitz Jill,Schmidt Fabian,Weisblum Yiska,Michailidis Eleftherios,Ashbrook Alison W.,Waltari Eric,Pak John E.,Huey-Tubman Kathryn E.,Koranda Nicholas,Hoffman Pauline R.,West Anthony P.,Rice Charles M.,Hatziioannou Theodora,Bjorkman Pamela J.,Bieniasz Paul D.,Caskey Marina,Nussenzweig Michel C.
Abstract
AbstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infected millions of people and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Virus entry into cells depends on the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S). Although there is no vaccine, it is likely that antibodies will be essential for protection. However, little is known about the human antibody response to SARS-CoV-21–5. Here we report on 149 COVID-19 convalescent individuals. Plasmas collected an average of 39 days after the onset of symptoms had variable half-maximal neutralizing titers ranging from undetectable in 33% to below 1:1000 in 79%, while only 1% showed titers >1:5000. Antibody cloning revealed expanded clones of RBD-specific memory B cells expressing closely related antibodies in different individuals. Despite low plasma titers, antibodies to three distinct epitopes on RBD neutralized at half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) as low as single digit ng/mL. Thus, most convalescent plasmas obtained from individuals who recover from COVID-19 do not contain high levels of neutralizing activity. Nevertheless, rare but recurring RBD-specific antibodies with potent antiviral activity were found in all individuals tested, suggesting that a vaccine designed to elicit such antibodies could be broadly effective.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory