Lectins enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection and influence neutralizing antibodies

Florian A. Lempp, Leah B. Soriaga, Martin Montiel-Ruiz, Fabio Benigni, Julia Noack, Young-Jun Park, Siro Bianchi, Alexandra C. Walls, John E. Bowen, Jiayi Zhou, Hannah Kaiser, Anshu Joshi, Maria Agostini, Marcel Meury, Exequiel Dellota, Stefano Jaconi, Elisabetta Cameroni, Javier Martinez-Picado, Júlia Vergara-Alert, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros, Herbert W. Virgin, Antonio Lanzavecchia, David Veesler, Lisa A. Purcell, Amalio Telenti () and Davide Corti ()
Additional contact information
Florian A. Lempp: Vir Biotechnology
Leah B. Soriaga: Vir Biotechnology
Martin Montiel-Ruiz: Vir Biotechnology
Fabio Benigni: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology
Julia Noack: Vir Biotechnology
Young-Jun Park: University of Washington
Siro Bianchi: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology
Alexandra C. Walls: University of Washington
John E. Bowen: University of Washington
Jiayi Zhou: Vir Biotechnology
Hannah Kaiser: Vir Biotechnology
Anshu Joshi: University of Washington
Maria Agostini: Vir Biotechnology
Marcel Meury: Vir Biotechnology
Exequiel Dellota: Vir Biotechnology
Stefano Jaconi: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology
Elisabetta Cameroni: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology
Javier Martinez-Picado: IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute
Júlia Vergara-Alert: Campus de la UAB
Nuria Izquierdo-Useros: IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute
Herbert W. Virgin: Vir Biotechnology
Antonio Lanzavecchia: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology
David Veesler: University of Washington
Lisa A. Purcell: Vir Biotechnology
Amalio Telenti: Vir Biotechnology
Davide Corti: Humabs Biomed SA, a subsidiary of Vir Biotechnology

Nature, 2021, vol. 598, issue 7880, 342-347

Abstract: Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection—which involves both cell attachment and membrane fusion—relies on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is paradoxically found at low levels in the respiratory tract1–3, suggesting that there may be additional mechanisms facilitating infection. Here we show that C-type lectin receptors, DC-SIGN, L-SIGN and the sialic acid–binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 1 (SIGLEC1) function as attachment receptors by enhancing ACE2-mediated infection and modulating the neutralizing activity of different classes of spike-specific antibodies. Antibodies to the amino-terminal domain or to the conserved site at the base of the receptor-binding domain, while poorly neutralizing infection of ACE2-overexpressing cells, effectively block lectin-facilitated infection. Conversely, antibodies to the receptor binding motif, while potently neutralizing infection of ACE2-overexpressing cells, poorly neutralize infection of cells expressing DC-SIGN or L-SIGN and trigger fusogenic rearrangement of the spike, promoting cell-to-cell fusion. Collectively, these findings identify a lectin-dependent pathway that enhances ACE2-dependent infection by SARS-CoV-2 and reveal distinct mechanisms of neutralization by different classes of spike-specific antibodies.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03925-1

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