Receptor-mimicking antibodies retain neutralization of recent SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Qi Tang, Liyuan Hu, Minxiang Xie, Ran Zhan, Qiao Wang, Rong Zhang

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Biosafety and health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Qi TangKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Liyuan HuKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Minxiang XieKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Ran ZhanKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Qiao WangKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Rong ZhangKey Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has compromised the efficacy of many neutralizing antibodies. Receptor-mimicking antibodies, whose binding modes partially resemble those of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), are of particular interest as they recognize functionally constrained regions of the receptor-binding domain (RBD). However, whether these antibodies retain activity against newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants remains unclear. In this study, two representative receptor-mimicking antibodies, VIR-7229 and S2K146, were evaluated alongside S2H13, another RBD-targeting antibody. VIR-7229 and S2K146 retained neutralizing activity better than S2H13, with VIR-7229 showing the greatest retention. VIR-7229 potently neutralized the Wuhan-Hu-1, BA.1, XBB.1.5, and BA.2.86 variants and exhibited reduced yet considerable neutralizing activity against KP.3.1.1, XEC, and XEC.25.1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biolayer interferometry further demonstrated that VIR-7229 maintained strong binding to spike proteins from recent variants. Computational structural analysis suggested that mutations in these variants may weaken VIR-7229 binding to the RBD but do not fully disrupt the antibody-RBD interface. These findings indicate that VIR-7229 retains considerable neutralizing activity and robust spike recognition against recent SARS-CoV-2 variants, likely through recognition of a functional interface involved in ACE2 binding. This study supports further evaluation of receptor-mimicking antibodies and may inform the design of candidate immunogens against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Indexed as

Receptor-mimicking antibodySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Spike protein

Identifiers

PMID42698763

DOI10.1016/j.bsheal.2026.06.004

PMCPMC13541768

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