Explained: A common molecular feature in antibodies that fight coronavirus

They reviewed data on nearly 300 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that their labs and others have found in convalescent Covid-19 patients over the past few months.

They noted that a subset of these antibodies is particularly powerful at neutralising the virus—and these potent antibodies are all encoded, in part, by the same antibody gene, IGHV3-53.

The scientists used X-ray crystallography to image two of these antibodies attached to their target site on SARS-CoV-2.

They said the resulting atomic-structure details of this interaction should be useful to vaccine designers and scientists hoping to develop antiviral drugs that target the same site on SARS-CoV-2.

Source: Scripps Research Institute