Synthetic carbohydrate-binding agents neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting binding of the spike protein to ACE2

• Published in: iScience Vol. 25; no. 5; p. 104239
• Main Authors: Francesconi, Oscar, Donnici, Lorena, Fragai, Marco, Pesce, Elisa, Bombaci, Mauro, Fasciani, Alessandra, Manganaro, Lara, Conti, Matteo, Grifantini, Renata, De Francesco, Raffaele, Nativi, Cristina, Roelens, Stefano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 20.05.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological sciences; Carbohydrate; Microbiology; Microbiology; Biological sciences; Carbohydrate
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104239

Developing strategies against the SARS-CoV-2 is currently a main research subject. SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by binding to human ACE2 receptors. Both, virus and ACE2, are highly glycosylated, and exploiting glycans of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope as binding sites for ACE2 represents a virus strategy for attacking the human host. We report here that a family of mannose-binding synthetic carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection, showing broad neutralizing activity vs. several variants of the spike protein. Preliminary tests indicated that the investigated CBAs interact with the spike protein rather than with ACE2. For a lead compound (IDS060), which has been selected among others for its lack of cytotoxicity, evidence of binding to the RBD of the spike protein has been found by NMR experiments, while competitive binding assays in the presence of IDS060 showed inhibition of binding of RBD to hACE2, although neutralizing activity was also observed with variants showing reduced or depleted binding. [Display omitted] •Mannose-binding CBAs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection showing broad neutralizing activity•CBAs interact with the spike protein rather than with ACE2 receptors•The non-toxic CBA IDS060 binds to the spike RBD and inhibits binding of RBD to hACE2 Biological sciences; Carbohydrate; Microbiology;