This HALRIC pilot project brings together a new cross-border team with expertise in virology, bioinformatics, structural biology and immunology, as well as clinical and industrial experience. Together, they will explore the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs), which could lead to new ways of diagnosing and combatting coronaviruses (CoVs). CoVs are a family of RNA viruses that cause a variety of diseases, and they have a well-documented potential to cause epidemics. A key feature of CoVs is their variable and immunodominant spike (S) protein, which has undergone significant genetic changes that allow it to evade antibodies.

In response to the challenge of targeting CoVs with traditional monoclonal antibodies, the concept of using bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that can bind to two different epitopes simultaneously has been proposed as a more efficient approach than traditional monoclonal antibodies. This research project aims to determine the neutralising potential of a panel of bsAbs towards human CoVs, and to visualise their structure and interactions with the S protein at an atomic level.

To ensure that the most potent bsAbs have the potential for future clinical and/or diagnostic use, the project will bring together a new, dedicated, translational team of virologists, structural biologists, immunotechnologists and clinicians to create synergistic effects that will increase the feasibility of achieving the aims and ensure the connection between the findings of in vitro studies at the molecular virology and structural biology levels and clinical practice.

The research team anticipates that the results generated will provide new and deeper insights into the use of CoV-specific bsAbs, with potential implications for diagnostics, treatment, and preparedness for faster responses to future pandemics. Notably, this project marks the beginning of a new, highly translational collaboration in the Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak-Hamburg area.

For further information about this HALRIC pilot project, please contact:

Joakim Esbjörnsson
Lund University
joakim.esbjornsson@med.lu.se