ACE2-binding exposes the SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptide to broadly neutralizing coronavirus antibodies.

Abstract

The coronavirus spike (S) glycoprotein attaches to host receptors and mediates viral fusion. Using a broad screening approach, we isolated from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune donors seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to all human-infecting coronavirus S proteins. This class of mAbs recognize the fusion peptide and acquire affinity and breadth through somatic mutations. Despite targeting a conserved motif, only some mAbs show broad neutralizing activity in vitro against alpha- and beta-coronaviruses, including animal coronavirus WIV-1 and PDF-2180. Two selected mAbs also neutralize Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 authentic viruses and reduce viral burden and pathology in vivo. Structural and functional analyses show that the fusion peptide-specific mAbs bind with different modalities to a cryptic epitope, which is hidden in prefusion stabilized S, and becomes exposed upon binding of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or ACE2-mimicking mAbs.