An Antibody That Can Block or Assist SARS-CoV-2
In a paper that appeared recently in the journal PLOS Pathogens, MSI PI Fang Li (professor, Pharmacology; co-director, Midwest AViDD Center) led a team that has discovered an antibody that both blocks and assists SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody helps pre-Omicron variants infect cells, but prevents the Omicron variant from doing so. This research gives us new insights into developing methods of fighting COVID-19 and other virus-caused illness.
A story about this research appears on the Midwest AViDD website: University of Minnesota scientists discover dual roles of antibodies in COVID-19 infections. The paper can be found on the journal website: Dual-role epitope on SARS-CoV-2 spike enhances and neutralized viral entry across different variants.
Professor Li uses MSI for studies for the structural and molecular basis of human diseases, including virus infections and cancer. He received the American Society of Microbiology’s Elizabeth O. King Lecturer Award at the society’s annual conference in June 2024, in recognition of his groundbreaking discoveries about the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the beginning of the pandemic.
