COVID-19 preclinical drug development database
Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 broadly neutralising antibodies
King's College London
Added 15/05/2020 | Updated 04/10/2021
Project Details
Type of project
- Tier 3: discovering and categorising new molecules
- Supporting technologies, models and assays
Therapeutic target
- Preventing infection (prophylaxis or preventing cell entry)
- Preventing virus replication in early disease
- Direct acting antiviral
Type of supporting technology
- Non-therapeutic antibodies
- Engineered cells lines
- Expression systems
- Assays and protocols (eg. for virus detection)
Phase of project
- High throughput screening
- Lead optimisation and activity validation
Modality (if can be disclosed)*
- Antibody
Molecular/cellular target (if known or can be disclosed)*
- SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein
Partner institutions/organisations
- Guy's & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Key contact
Name: Michael Malim
Email Address: michael.malim@kcl.ac.uk
Phone Number: 020 7848 9606
Key Collaborators:
Anticipated timeframe of future outputs
1-3 months
This research project is looking for the following:
We would be interested in comparing the monoclonal antibodies we isolate, with those obtained by other groupsFurther Details
Abstract or additional information (if available)*
We have assembled a team of molecular virologists, immunologists and frontline infection and critical-care clinicians from King’s College London and Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals; using carefully curated sets of consecutive specimens collected from local patients and staff under the appropriate ethical framework, we will: 1) Characterise the quality and nature of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, taking into account both clinical history and prior exposures to seasonal (non-fatal) coronaviruses; 2) Map at the molecular/atomic level the viral components that are targeted by protective (neutralising) antibodies and block SARS-CoV-2 infection; 3) Molecularly clone and characterise the immunoglobulin genes for antibodies with potent neutralising behaviour to understand the features required for protection - such antibodies represent potential COVID-19 immunotherapeutics; and 4) Depending on timing and the state of the epidemic, leverage the detailed knowledge of beneficial antibody attributes for donor screening for convalescent serum therapy in intensive care patients
Published outputs (if available)*
