Monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 therapy and SARS-CoV-2 detection

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an exceptional public health crisis that demands the timely creation of new therapeutics and viral detection. Owing to their high specificity and reliability, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as powerful tools to treat and detect numerous diseases. Hence, many researchers have begun to urgently develop Ab-based kits for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Ab drugs for use as COVID-19 therapeutic agents. The detailed structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is known, and since this protein is key for viral infection, its receptor-binding domain (RBD) has become a major target for therapeutic Ab development. Because SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus with a high mutation rate, especially under the selective pressure of aggressively deployed prophylactic vaccines and neutralizing Abs, the use of Ab cocktails is expected to be an important strategy for effective COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection may stimulate an overactive immune response, resulting in a cytokine storm that drives severe disease progression. Abs to combat cytokine storms have also been under intense development as treatments for COVID-19. In addition to their use as drugs, Abs are currently being utilized in SARS-CoV-2 detection tests, including antigen and immunoglobulin tests. Such Ab-based detection tests are crucial surveillance tools that can be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Herein, we highlight some key points regarding mAb-based detection tests and treatments for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health crisis, leading to the urgent development of therapeutic treatments and virus detection methods. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as powerful tools for treating and detecting diseases due to their high specificity and reliability. Researchers are urgently developing antibody-based kits for SARS-CoV-2 detection and antibody drugs for COVID-19 treatment. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is crucial for viral infection, has been extensively studied and its receptor-binding domain (RBD) has become a major target for therapeutic antibody development. Given the high mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2, especially under the pressure of prophylactic vaccines and neutralizing antibodies, the use of antibody cocktails is expected to be an important strategy for effective COVID-19 treatment. Additionally, antibodies against cytokine storms, which can be triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection and drive severe disease progression, are also being developed as treatments for COVID-19. In addition to their use as drugs, antibodies are currently being used in SARS-CoV-2 detection tests, including antigen and immunoglobulin tests, which are crucial surveillance tools for preventing the spread of COVID-19.