19n01, a broadly neutralizing antibody against omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, and other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Summary: This study reports the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) called 19n01. This mAb was isolated by using single-cell RNAseq of B cells from donors infected with the ancestral strain. This mAb possesses a potent and broad capacity to bind and neutralize all previously circulating variants of concern (VOCs), including Omicron sublineages BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5. The pseudovirus neutralization assay revealed robust neutralization capacity against the G614 strain, BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5, with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 0.0035 to 0.0164 μg/mL. The microneutralization assay using the G614 strain and VOCs demonstrated IC50 values of 0.013–0.267 μg/mL. Biophysical and structural analysis showed that 19n01 cross-competes with ACE2 binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the kinetic parameters confirmed the high affinity against the Omicron sublineages (KD of 61 and 30 nM for BA.2 and BA.4/5, respectively). These results suggest that the 19n01 is a remarkably potent and broadly reactive mAb