BREAKING NEWS! Hamster Study Shows SARS-CoV-2 Does Not Just Evade But Rather Literally Hijacks Neutralizing Dimeric IgA Antibodies For Nasal Infection!
Thailand Medical News Team Aug 07, 2023 1 year, 4 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 22 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: Researchers at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, and Tsinghua University, Beijing, have made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds light on how SARS-CoV-2 hijacks neutralizing dimeric IgA antibodies for nasal infection.
Pic Credit: Siarhei/adobe stock
The Transmissibility Enigma
SARS-CoV-2 exhibits a significantly higher transmissibility compared to its cousin, SARS-CoV-1, which caused the SARS outbreak in 2003. Several factors contribute to the heightened transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. First, asymptomatic carriers can unknowingly spread the virus, making it challenging to contain its spread. Second, specific genetic mutations in the virus's spike protein, such as the PRRA insertion and the D614G mutation, enhance its ability to infect cells and evade the host immune response. These factors have collectively led to over 667 million infections and 6.7 million deaths worldwide by the end of 2022 as reported in various
COVID-19 News reports, making COVID-19 a formidable global health crisis.
The Role of Neutralizing Antibodies
Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) play a crucial role in the immune response against viral infections. These antibodies can bind to the virus and neutralize its infectivity, preventing it from entering and infecting host cells. In COVID-19 patients, RBD-specific IgA antibodies have been rapidly identified, indicating their importance in the immune defense against SARS-CoV-2.
Understanding the Efficacy of IgA Antibodies
The study team aimed to investigate the potential of monomeric and dimeric IgA antibodies in preventing SARS-CoV-2 nasal infection. Monomeric and dimeric forms of IgA antibodies were engineered based on a potent RBD-specific neutralizing antibody known as B8. While the monomeric IgA forms did not significantly reduce viral loads in nasal turbinate tissues, the dimeric IgA forms, particularly B8-dIgA1, paradoxically increased the number of infectious viruses in the nasal tissues.
The Hijacking Mechanism
To understand the unexpected increase in nasal infection with B8-dIgA1 and B8-dIgA2, researchers investigated the interaction of these antibodies with cells expressing the receptor CD209, which can capture and transfer the virus to target cells. It was found that B8-dIgA1 and B8-dIgA2 bound to CD209, allowing the virus to exploit this alternative receptor for infecting non-ACE2 cells. Consequently, CD209+ cells in the olfactory epithelium became more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, contributing to a broader nasal infection and damage.
Implications for COVID-19 Pathogenesis and Immune Interventions
This novel finding has significant implications for understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and developing effective immune interventions. The discovery of SARS-CoV-2's ability to evade neutralizing dimeric IgA antibodies through CD209-mediated infection highlights the complexity of the virus's mechanisms for in
fecting the respiratory tract. It also raises concerns about the potential limitations of certain neutralizing antibodies in therapeutic applications.
Further Research and Clinical Correlates
As the global scientific community continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, further research is needed to identify the clinical correlates of protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. The study of neutralizing dimeric IgA antibodies and their interaction with CD209+ cells provide valuable insights into potential avenues for therapeutic development. Additionally, investigations into vaccine breakthrough infections and the role of afucosylated antibodies in COVID-19 severity may help refine vaccination strategies.
Conclusion
The discovery of SARS-CoV-2's ability to exploit neutralizing dimeric IgA antibodies for nasal infection opens new doors for understanding the virus's behavior and pathogenesis. The study highlights the importance of exploring various antibody types and their interactions with different cell receptors to develop effective strategies against COVID-19
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Emerging Microbes and Infections. (Taylor & Francis)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2023.2245921
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