Structural basis for antibody-mediated neutralization of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

The mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen that can be lethal in immunocompromised patients and can cause severe birth defects if acquired during pregnancy. The structure of the trimeric surface glycoprotein, essential for entry, vaccine design, and antibody neutralization, remains unknown. Here, we present the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the LCMV surface glycoprotein (GP) in its trimeric pre-fusion assembly both alone and in complex with a rationally engineered monoclonal neutralizing antibody termed 18.5C-M28 (M28). Additionally, we show that passive administration of M28, either as a prophylactic or therapeutic, protects mice from LCMV clone 13 (LCMVcl13) challenge. Our study illuminates not only the overall structural organization of LCMV GP and the mechanism for its inhibition by M28 but also presents a promising therapeutic candidate to prevent severe or fatal disease in individuals who are at risk of infection by a virus that poses a threat worldwide.

Bivalent intra-spike binding provides durability against emergent Omicron lineages: Results from a global consortium.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VoC) and its sublineages contain 31-36 mutations in spike and escape neutralization by most therapeutic antibodies. In a pseudovirus neutralization assay, 66 of the nearly 400 candidate therapeutics in the Coronavirus Immunotherapeutic Consortium (CoVIC) panel neutralize Omicron and multiple Omicron sublineages. Among natural immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs), especially those in the receptor-binding domain (RBD)-2 epitope community, nearly all Omicron neutralizers recognize spike bivalently, with both antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) simultaneously engaging adjacent RBDs on the same spike. Most IgGs that do not neutralize Omicron bind either entirely monovalently or have some (22%-50%) monovalent occupancy. Cleavage of bivalent-binding IgGs to Fabs abolishes neutralization and binding affinity, with disproportionate loss of activity against Omicron pseudovirus and spike. These results suggest that VoC-resistant antibodies overcome mutagenic substitution via avidity. Hence, vaccine strategies targeting future SARS-CoV-2 variants should consider epitope display with spacing and organization identical to trimeric spike.

A cocktail of protective antibodies subverts the dense glycan shield of Lassa virus.

Developing potent therapeutics and effective vaccines are the ultimate goals in controlling infectious diseases. Lassa virus (LASV), the causative pathogen of Lassa fever (LF), infects hundreds of thousands annually, but effective antivirals or vaccines against LASV infection are still lacking. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies against LASV are rare. Here, we describe biochemical analyses and high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of a therapeutic cocktail of three broadly protective antibodies that target the LASV glycoprotein complex (GPC), previously identified from survivors of multiple LASV infections. Structural and mechanistic analyses reveal compatible neutralizing epitopes and complementary neutralization mechanisms that offer high potency, broad range, and resistance to escape. These antibodies either circumvent or exploit specific glycans comprising the extensive glycan shield of GPC. Further, they require mammalian glycosylation, native GPC cleavage, and proper GPC trimerization. These findings guided engineering of a next-generation GPC antigen suitable for future neutralizing antibody and vaccine discovery. Together, these results explain protective mechanisms of rare, broad, and potent antibodies and identify a strategy for the rational design of therapeutic modalities against LF and related infectious diseases.

Neutralizing Antibodies against Lassa Virus Lineage I.

Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of the deadly Lassa fever (LF). Seven distinct LASV lineages circulate through western Africa, among which lineage I (LI), the first to be identified, is particularly resistant to antibody neutralization. Lineage I LASV evades neutralization by half of known antibodies in the GPC-A antibody competition group and all but one of the antibodies in the GPC-B competition group. Here, we solve two cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of LI GP in complex with a GPC-A and a GPC-B antibody. We used complementary structural and biochemical techniques to identify single-amino-acid substitutions in LI that are responsible for immune evasion by each antibody group. Further, we show that LI infection is more dependent on the endosomal receptor lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) for viral entry relative to LIV. In the absence of LAMP1, LI requires a more acidic fusion pH to initiate membrane fusion with the host cell relative to LIV. IMPORTANCE No vaccine or therapeutics are approved to prevent LASV infection or treat LF. All vaccine platforms currently under development present only the LIV GP sequence. However, our data suggest that the high genetic diversity of LASV may be problematic for designing both a broadly reactive immunogen and therapeutic. Here, we examine antibodies that are highly potent against LIV yet are ineffective against LI. By pinpointing LI mutations responsible for this decrease in antibody efficacy, we suggest that future vaccine platforms may need to incorporate specific LI-like mutations in order to generate a broadly neutralizing antibody response against all LASV lineages.

Delineating the mechanism of anti-Lassa virus GPC-A neutralizing antibodies.

Lassa virus (LASV) is the etiologic agent of Lassa Fever, a hemorrhagic disease that is endemic to West Africa. During LASV infection, LASV glycoprotein (GP) engages with multiple host receptors for cell entry. Neutralizing antibodies against GP are rare and principally target quaternary epitopes displayed only on the metastable, pre-fusion conformation of GP. Currently, the structural features of the neutralizing GPC-A antibody competition group are understudied. Structures of two GPC-A antibodies presented here demonstrate that they bind the side of the pre-fusion GP trimer, bridging the GP1 and GP2 subunits. Complementary biochemical analyses indicate that antibody 25.10C, which is broadly specific, neutralizes by inhibiting binding of the endosomal receptor LAMP1 and also by blocking membrane fusion. The other GPC-A antibody, 36.1F, which is lineage-specific, prevents LAMP1 association only. These data illuminate a site of vulnerability on LASV GP and will guide efforts to elicit broadly reactive therapeutics and vaccines.

Asymmetric and non-stoichiometric glycoprotein recognition by two distinct antibodies results in broad protection against ebolaviruses.

Several ebolaviruses cause outbreaks of severe disease. Vaccines and monoclonal antibody cocktails are available to treat Ebola virus (EBOV) infections, but not Sudan virus (SUDV) or other ebolaviruses. Current cocktails contain antibodies that cross-react with the secreted soluble glycoprotein (sGP) that absorbs virus-neutralizing antibodies. By sorting memory B cells from EBOV infection survivors, we isolated two broadly reactive anti-GP monoclonal antibodies, 1C3 and 1C11, that potently neutralize, protect rodents from disease, and lack sGP cross-reactivity. Both antibodies recognize quaternary epitopes in trimeric ebolavirus GP. 1C11 bridges adjacent protomers via the fusion loop. 1C3 has a tripartite epitope in the center of the trimer apex. One 1C3 antigen-binding fragment anchors simultaneously to the three receptor-binding sites in the GP trimer, and separate 1C3 paratope regions interact differently with identical residues on the three protomers. A cocktail of both antibodies completely protected nonhuman primates from EBOV and SUDV infections, indicating their potential clinical value.

Defining variant-resistant epitopes targeted by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: A global consortium study.

Antibody-based therapeutics and vaccines are essential to combat COVID-19 morbidity and mortality after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Multiple mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that could impair antibody defenses propagated in human-to-human transmission and spillover or spillback events between humans and animals. To develop prevention and therapeutic strategies, we formed an international consortium to map the epitope landscape on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, defining and structurally illustrating seven receptor binding domain (RBD)­directed antibody communities with distinct footprints and competition profiles. Pseudovirion-based neutralization assays reveal spike mutations, individually and clustered together in variants, that affect antibody function among the communities. Key classes of RBD-targeted antibodies maintain neutralization activity against these emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. These results provide a framework for selecting antibody treatment cocktails and understanding how viral variants might affect antibody therapeutic efficacy.