Structural Basis for Potent Neutralization of Betacoronaviruses by Single-Domain Camelid Antibodies

Using llamas immunized with prefusionstabilized
betacoronavirus spike
proteins, Wrapp et al. identify neutralizing
cross-reactive single-domain camelid
antibodies, which may serve not only as
useful reagents for researchers studying
the viruses causing MERS, SARS, and
SARS-CoV-2, but also potential therapeutic
candidates. Crystal structures further
reveal how these antibodies bind spike
proteins to prevent virus entry into cells.
VHHs isolated from a llama immunized with prefusionstabilized
coronavirus spikes
Structural characterization of VHHs reveals conserved
mechanism of neutralization
SARS-CoV-1 S-directed VHH cross-reacts with SARS-CoV-
2 S
Bivalent VHH neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses