Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41053501›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2025

Development of an ultrahigh affinity, trimeric ACE2 biologic as a universal SARS-CoV-2 antagonist.

Juliet Gonzales, Tynan Young, Hyeran Choi, Miso Park, Yead Jewel, Chengcheng Fan, Rahul Purohit, Pamela J Bjorkman, John C Williams

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Juliet Gonzales *Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2721-9566
Tynan Young *Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3982-1485
Hyeran ChoiDepartment of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
Miso ParkDepartment of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
Yead JewelDepartment of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
Chengcheng FanDivision of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
Rahul PurohitDepartment of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
Pamela J BjorkmanDivision of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-3990
John C WilliamsIrell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA. jcwilliams@coh.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0522-384X

Funding

Transgenic Mouse FacilityP30CA033572 · NCI · CITY OF HOPE/BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI John Charles Williams · 1985 to 2026
$86.3M
X-ray Scattering Technology CoreP30GM133893 · NIGMS · BROOKHAVEN SCIENCE ASSOC-BROOKHAVEN LAB · PI Vivian Stojanoff · 2019 to 2026
$38.6M
The longevity and nature of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 cellular and humoral immune responsesP01AI165075 · NIAID · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · PI BIENIASZ, PAUL D., BJORKMAN, PAMELA J · 2022 to 2023
$10.7M
Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope (Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope) IDDV (JCW)Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope (Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope) Institutional Funds (JCW)Gates Foundation INV-034638NCI NIH HHS P30 CA033572NIAID NIH HHS P01 AI165075NIGMS NIH HHS P30 GM133893U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) P30CA033572Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizes membrane-bound, angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) for internalization and infection. We describe the development of a biologic that takes advantage of the proximity of the N-terminus of bound ACE2 to the three-fold symmetry axis of the spike protein to create an ultrapotent, trivalent ACE2 entry antagonist. Distinct disulfide bonds were added to enhance serum stability and a single point mutation was introduced to eliminate enzymatic activity. Through surface plasmon resonance, pseudovirus neutralization assays, and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, we show this antagonist binds to and inhibits SARS-CoV-2 variants. We further show the antagonist binds to and inhibits a 2003 SARS-CoV-1 strain. Collectively, structural insight has allowed us to design a universal trivalent antagonist against all variants of SARS-CoV-2 tested, suggesting it will be active against the emergence of future mutants.

Indexed as

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antiviral AgentsCOVID-19 Drug TreatmentSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Cryoelectron MicroscopyHumansProtein BindingSpike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusSurface Plasmon ResonanceVirus InternalizationACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antiviral AgentsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41053501
PMCPMC12501226

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.