Preparation of ingestible antibodies to neutralize the binding of SarsCoV2 RBD (receptor binding domain) to human ACE2 Receptor

Abstract

COVID19 continues to be a serious threat to human health and mortality. There is dire need for new solutions to combat this pandemic especially for those individuals who are not vaccinated or unable to be vaccinated and continue to be exposed to the SARSCoV2. In addition, the emergence of new more transmissible variants such as delta pose additional threat from this virus. To explore another solution for prevention and treatment of COVID 19, we have produced chicken egg derived IgY antibodies against the Receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARSCoV2 spike protein which is involved in binding to human cell ACE2 receptors. The - RBD IgY effectively neutralize the binding of RBD to ACE2 and prevent pseudovirus entry in a PRNT assay. Importantly our anti-RBD IgY also neutralize the binding of Sars CoV2 delta variant RBD to ACE2. Given that chicken egg derived IgY are safe and permissible for human consumption, we plan to develop these ingestible antibodies for prevention of viral entry in the oropharyngeal and digestive tract in humans as passive immunotherapy.