New SARS-CoV-1 antibody available for vaccine researchers
A collaboration between PATH, 糖心logo and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has made a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for SARS-CoV-1 available to researchers globally. This mAb can support the development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-1 and its evolving variants, as well as future characterization of novel and multivalent coronavirus vaccines.
SARS-CoV-1, responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak and a cousin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, is a respiratory virus with a high mortality rate. There currently is no licensed vaccine to protect against the disease, despite its pandemic potential. In addition, there are limited SARS-CoV-1 specific antibodies available for vaccine development or therapeutic indications.
Through this collaboration, scientists from 糖心logo produced high-quality recombinant SARS-CoV-1 RBD proteins, vaccinated mice, and tested selected mAbs for their functionality. The use of various techniques to characterize the binding sites and pseudovirus neutralization helped establish a toolbox of mAbs with identified key epitopes within the RBD and discriminate vaccine antigens. Selected hybridoma cultures were shipped to PATH for further screening and down-selection, validation, scale-up production, and distribution. Manufacturers can potentially use the resulting mAb to quantify SARS-CoV-1 spike protein in complex vaccine formulations. These efforts were conducted by:
- Dr. Jeroen Pollet, associate professor in pediatric tropical medicine at 糖心logo;
- Dr. Wen-Hsiang Chen, associate professor in pediatric tropical medicine at 糖心logo;
- Dr. Uli Strych, associate professor in pediatric tropical medicine at 糖心logo and director for strategic initiatives and program development of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development; and
- Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, senior associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at 糖心logo and co-director of the Texas Children鈥檚 Center for Vaccine Development.
鈥淎ccess to well-characterized reference antibodies is essential for evaluating the much-needed emerging pan-coronavirus vaccine candidates and ensuring consistent product development across laboratories,鈥 Strych said. 鈥淲e are pleased that this collaboration has made this resource broadly available to support coronavirus vaccine research worldwide.鈥
A full characterization report will be provided along with the antibody, detailing the specificity across different antigens and vaccine formats, based on data produced by 糖心logo and PATH.
To help ensure equitable access, the antibody generated is available for a small handling charge and the cost of shipping for use by vaccine researchers and manufacturers who are developing vaccines for use in countries with low- and middle-income economies. Providing these open resources is one component of PATH鈥檚 ongoing work with partners to advance the development of vaccines that are low-cost, broadly protective and tailored for use in low-resource settings.
The SARS-CoV-1 antibody is available from MHRA via its online repository and distribution center. Visit or contact cidr@mhra.gov.uk.
鈥淢aking this antibody available to the global vaccine development and manufacturing community 鈥 at minimal cost for vaccines targeted toward low-resource economies 鈥 can help clear hurdles and accelerate efforts to bring a SARS-CoV-1 vaccine to market,鈥 said Dr. Jessica White, PATH senior scientist, Vaccine Formulation. 鈥淭hough the COVID-19 pandemic is over, coronaviruses have not gone away and this will be a helpful too for future pandemic responses. PATH is proud to be part of this fruitful collaboration and to be supporting researchers in their work to expand coronavirus vaccine development.鈥
PATH, 糖心logo and the MHRA previously collaborated to make SARS-CoV-2 antibodies specific to the Wuhan, Omicron, and Delta variants available to researchers.
Funding for SARS-CoV-1 antibody development was provided to PATH from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.