PreprintCited by 1,178SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Researchvaccines and immunoinformatics approachesSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing

Comprehensive mapping of mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain that affect recognition by polyclonal human serum antibodies

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Greaney, Allison J., Loes, Andrea N., Crawford, Katharine H.D., Starr, Tyler N., Malone, Keara D., Chu, Helen Y., Bloom, Jesse D.·2021·Cell Host & Microbe

Preprint — published as 10.1016/j.chom.2021.02.003 · Paper page

Abstract

The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 could impair recognition of the virus by human antibody-mediated immunity. To facilitate prospective surveillance for such evolution, we map how convalescent serum antibodies are impacted by all mutations to the spike’s receptor-binding domain (RBD), the main target of serum neutralizing activity. Binding by polyclonal serum antibodies is affected by mutations in three main epitopes in the RBD, but there is substantial variation in the impact of mutations both among individuals and within the same individual over time. Despite this inter- and intra-person heterogeneity, the mutations that most reduce antibody binding usually occur at just a few sites in the RBD’s receptor binding motif. The most important site is E484, where neutralization by some sera is reduced >10-fold by several mutations, including one in emerging viral lineages in South Africa and Brazil. Going forward, these serum escape maps can inform surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 evolution.

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Crossref · 10.1101/2020.12.31.425021

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  • The E484K mutation has been reported to abolish or substantially reduce neutralization by multiple potent monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal convalescent sera in both wild-type and pseudo-virus neutralization assays.

    “The E484K mutation has been reported to abolish or substantially reduce neutralization by multiple potent monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal convalescent sera in both wild-type and pseudo-virus neutralization assays.12,13,17,18,22”
  • The B.1.351 variant is characterized by three deleterious mutations at key antigenic sites in the RBD, including N501Y, K417N, and E484K.

    “The B.1.351 variant is characterized by three deleterious mutations at key antigenic sites in the RBD, including N501Y, K417N, and E484K, with the latter two having particular functional impact.”
  • Breakthrough cases observed might be due to immune evasion mediated by particular alterations present in these strains.

    “From a biological point of view, the breakthrough cases observed in this study might be due to immune evasion, mediated by particular alterations present in these strains 9,[23][24][25][26][27] .”

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  1. Kemp, S.A., Collier, D.A., Datir, R., Ferreira, I.A., Gayed, S., Jahun, A., Hosmillo, M., Rees-Spear, C., Mlcochova, P., Lumb, I.U., et al. (2020b). Neutralising antibodies drive Spike mediated SARS-CoV-2 evasion (medRxiv).

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Authors
Greaney, A. J., Loes, A. N., Crawford, K. H. D., Starr, T. N., Malone, K. D., Chu, H. Y., & Bloom, J. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
  • Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
Corresponding author
Bloom, Jesse D.
Venue
Cell Host & Microbe
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2021-01-04
Volume
29
Issue
3
Pages
463-476.e6
ISSN
1931-3128 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3127852352
Cited by
1,178
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 43 · 2025: 64 · 2024: 79 · 2023: 158 · 2022: 361 · 2021: 459 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI
83.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Host & Microbe (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-004949)
  • Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (DRG-2381-19)
  • Washington Research Foundation
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of Washington
  • National Institutes of Health (1s10od028685-01)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI127893, T32AI083203, F30AI149928, R01AI140891, R01AI141707)
  • Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, National Institutes of Health (S10OD028685)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, spike protein receptor-binding domain, antibody escape mutations, neutralizing antibodies, E484K mutation, antibody epitopes, convalescent plasma, humoral immunity
MeSH terms
Protein Domains, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, Aged, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Viral, Binding Sites, Cell Line, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mutation, Prospective Studies, Protein Binding, Receptors, Virus, Young Adult, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

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