Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42149106›Full record

ArticleeLife2026

Redirection of SARS-CoV-2 to phagocytes by intranasal sACE2-Fc as a universal decoy confers complete prophylactic protection.

Jingyi Wang, Jiangchuan Li, Alex W H Chin, Bin Luo, Junkang Wei, Jiale Qiu, Jianwei Ren, Yin Xia, Thomas Braun, Leo L M Poon and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in eLife, 2026. 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

11 authors.

Jingyi Wang *School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4419-2618
Jiangchuan Li *School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8932-3073
Alex W H Chin *Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6556-9092
Bin LuoSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Junkang WeiSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Jiale QiuSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Jianwei RenSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yin XiaSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0315-7532
Thomas BraunSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6165-4804
Leo L M PoonCentre for Immunology and Infection, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-7953
Bo FengSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine; GIBH CAS-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4018-3257

Funding

Chinese University of Hong Kong Postgraduate studentshipInnovation and Technology Commission Health@InnoHKResearch Grants Council, University Grants Committee 14106024Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee 14115520Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee C7145-20GF
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory RNA viruses limits the success of current vaccines and antibody-based therapies. Engineered decoy receptors based on soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (sACE2) offer promising alternatives but show limited clinical success. This study conducted functional and mechanistic analyses using an optimized sACE2 mutant fused to human IgG1 Fc (B5-D3) as a representative, revealing redirection of virus-decoy complexes from epithelial infection to lysosomal degradation in phagocytes beyond viral neutralization. Intranasal prophylactic delivery of B5-D3 confers complete protection in SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice, regardless of age. Abrogation of Fc effector functions compromises antiviral protection, indicating that Fc-mediated uptake of virus-decoy complexes is critical. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that B5-D3 induces early immune activation in the lungs of infected mice. Bio-distribution and flow cytometry reveal selective targeting of airway phagocytes. In vitro assays confirm lysosomal degradation of virus-decoy complexes by macrophages without productive infection. These findings reveal a distinct antiviral mechanism via phagocytic clearance, supporting refined regimens for decoy treatments against SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other respiratory viruses.

Indexed as

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2COVID-19Immunoglobulin Fc FragmentsPhagocytesSARS-CoV-2Administration, IntranasalAnimalsHumansImmunoglobulin GMiceACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Immunoglobulin Fc FragmentsImmunoglobulin GACE2-Fc decoyimmunologyinfectious diseaseinflammationintranasal prophylacticsmacrophagesmicrobiologySARS-CoV-2viruses

Identifiers

PMID42149106
PMCPMC13183376

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.