binding affinity

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron escapes immune response due to high ACE2 affinity and low antibody specificity

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Study: Increased Receptor Affinity and Reduced Recognition by Specific Antibodies Contribute to Immune Escape of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron. ​​​​​​​Image Credit: Orpheus FX / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal Vaccinesresearchers revealed how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron escapes neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). Two days after it was first reported on November 24, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated SARS-CoV-2 Omicron as a variant of concern (VOC). The WHO estimated a potentially higher risk of … Read more

Bebtelovimab potentially neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

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Study: LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Image Credit: CROCOTHERY/Shutterstock

New variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge, posing formidable challenges to vaccine efficacy and the end of the pandemic. Selective immune and vaccine pressures have guided the emergence of the mutations, often because of prolonged infections in immunocompromised individuals. Study: LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) potentially neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Image Credit: CROCOTHERY/Shutterstock … Read more

The challenges of Omicron

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Study: Omicron – The new SARS-CoV-2 challenge?. Image Credit: Dkoi/Shutterstock

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic broke out early in 2020, following the reporting of several cases of pneumonia caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. So far, this disease has claimed more than 6.5 million lives worldwide. Study: Omicron – The new SARS-CoV-2 challenge?. Image … Read more

Study identifies a new class of monoclonal antibodies that neutralize both alpha and beta coronaviruses

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Study: ACE2 engagement exposes the fusion peptide to pan-coronavirus neutralizing antibodies. Image Credit: MattLphotography/Shutterstock

A team of international scientists has recently isolated and characterized pan-coronavirus neutralizing antibodies from individuals with pre-existing immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These antibodies target the spike fusion peptide of all human alpha and beta coronaviruses and exhibit broad neutralizing activity. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server. … Read more