Newly discovered antibody protects against all COVID-19 variants

Researchers have discovered an antibody that can neutralize all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as distantly related SARS-like coronaviruses that infect other animals.

In a new study of hybrid immunity to the virus, a large multi-institutional research team led by the University of Texas at Austin has discovered and isolated a broadly neutralizing plasma antibody, called SC27, from a single patient. Using technology developed over years of antibody response research, the team led by UT engineers and scientists obtained the exact molecular sequence of the antibody, opening the possibility of manufacturing it on a larger scale for future treatments.

“The discovery of SC27, and other similar antibodies in the future, will help us better protect the population against current and future COVID variants,” said Jason Lavinder, a research assistant professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering and one of the leaders of the new research, which was recently published in Cellular Reports Medicine.

Since COVID-19 was discovered more than four years ago, the virus that causes it has evolved rapidly. Each new variant has had different characteristics, many of which have made them more resistant to vaccines and other treatments.

Protective antibodies bind to a part of the virus called the Spike protein, which serves as an anchor for the virus to attach to and infect cells in the body. By blocking the Spike protein, the antibodies prevent this interaction and, therefore, also prevent infection.

The SC27 protein identified the different features of spike proteins in the many COVID variants. UT researchers, who first decoded the structure of the original spike protein and paved the way for vaccines and other treatments, have verified the capabilities of the SC27 protein.

The technology used to isolate the antibody, called Ig-Seq, allows researchers to take a closer look at the antibody response to infection and vaccination using a combination of single-cell DNA sequencing and proteomics.

“One of the goals of this research, and of vaccinology in general, is to work toward a universal vaccine that can generate antibodies and create an immune response with broad protection against a rapidly mutating virus,” said Will Voss, a recent graduate in cell and molecular biology in UT’s College of Natural Sciences who co-led the study.

In addition to the discovery of this antibody, research has revealed that hybrid immunity – a combination of infection and vaccination – provides increased antibody-based protection against future exposure compared to infection or vaccination alone.

This work was carried out as the pandemic experienced a new wave of infections last summer. This trend shows that even though the worst of the pandemic is over, there is still a need for innovative solutions to help people avoid and treat the virus.

The researchers have filed a patent application for the SC27.