A broad and potent neutralization epitope in SARS-related coronaviruses

Many neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) elicited to ancestral SARS-CoV-2 through natural infection and vaccination generally have reduced effectiveness to SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we show therapeutic antibody ADG20 is able to neutralize all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) including Omicron (B.1.1.529) as well as other SARS-related coronaviruses. We delineate the structural basis of this relatively escape-resistant epitope that extends from one end of the receptor binding site (RBS) into the highly conserved CR3022 site. ADG20 can then benefit from high potency through direct competition with ACE2 in the more variable RBS and interaction with the more highly conserved CR3022 site. Importantly, antibodies that are able to target this site generally neutralize all VOCs, albeit with reduced potency against Omicron. Thus, this highly conserved and vulnerable site can be exploited for design of universal vaccines and therapeutic antibodies.