Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41880376›Full record

ArticlePLoS pathogens2026

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by IgM-14 via engagement of two distinct spike epitopes.

Yan Wang, Yanping Hu, Zhiqiang Ku, Jason Yeung, Jing Zou, Michael Woodson, Nikolai S Prokhorov, Ekaterina S Knyazhanskaya, Haiqing Zhao, Michael B Sherman and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS pathogens, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

15 authors.

Yan WangDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Yanping HuDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Zhiqiang KuTexas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Jason YeungDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Jing ZouDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Michael WoodsonDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Nikolai S ProkhorovDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Ekaterina S KnyazhanskayaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Haiqing ZhaoDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Michael B ShermanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Zhiqiang AnTexas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Stephen F CarrollIGM Biosciences Inc., 325 East Middlefield Road, Mountain View, California, United States of America.
Pei-Yong ShiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Petr G LeimanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.
Xuping XieDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0003-0918-016X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Engineered immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies typically exhibit superior neutralization potency and avidity compared to their parental IgG counterparts, primarily due to multivalent binding to repeated epitopes on a targeting antigen. In this study, we characterize the neutralization breadth and mechanism of action of IgM-14, a previously reported intranasally deliverable antibody targeting SARS-CoV-2. IgM-14 demonstrates remarkably potent antiviral activity against all pre-Omicron variants but significantly reduced efficacy against Omicron BA.1, and complete loss of activity against the later subvariant JN.1. Resistance selection identified two key mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD), G476D and F486P, which disrupt IgM-14 binding and confer strong resistance. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis uncovered two distinct Fab-RBD interfaces: a primary interface overlapping the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-binding region, and a unique secondary interface formed only when the RBD adopts the ACE2-inaccessible "down" conformation, involving a neighboring spike protomer. Site-directed mutagenesis and structural modeling revealed a critical role of this secondary site in IgM-14-mediated neutralization. Unlike IgG-14, structural modeling suggested that IgM-14 can simultaneously engage both interfaces in diverse modes, indicating a noncanonical avidity mechanism. Collectively, these findings highlight the structural and functional uniqueness of IgM-14 and offer valuable insights into the rational design of next-generation spike-targeted antibody therapeutics with enhanced breadth and potency.

Indexed as

Antibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralCOVID-19EpitopesImmunoglobulin MSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralEpitopesImmunoglobulin MSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41880376
PMCPMC13043055

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Registered trials

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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.