Development of Plant-Produced Recombinant ACE2-Fc Fusion Protein as a Potential Therapeutic Agent Against SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science Vol. 11; p. 604663
• Main Authors: Siriwattananon, Konlavat, Manopwisedjaroen, Suwimon, Kanjanasirirat, Phongthon, Budi Purwono, Priyo, Rattanapisit, Kaewta, Shanmugaraj, Balamurugan, Smith, Duncan R, Borwornpinyo, Suparerk, Thitithanyanont, Arunee, Phoolcharoen, Waranyoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 07-01-2021
• Subjects: ACE2-Fc fusion protein; COVID-19; molecular farming; Nicotiana benthamiana; Plant Science; plant-produced recombinant protein; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; plant-produced recombinant protein; ACE2-Fc fusion protein; Nicotiana benthamiana; SARS-CoV-2; molecular farming
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.604663

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has recently emerged as a potential threat to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 is the third known human coronavirus that has huge impact on the human population after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Although some vaccines and therapeutic drugs are currently in clinical trials, none of them are approved for commercial use yet. As with SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the cell entry receptor to enter into the host cell. In this study, we have transiently produced human ACE2 fused with the Fc region of human IgG1 in
and the
neutralization efficacy of the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein was assessed. The recombinant ACE2-Fc fusion protein was expressed in
at 100 μg/g leaf fresh weight on day 6 post-infiltration. The recombinant fusion protein showed potent binding to receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, the plant-produced fusion protein exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity
. Treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein after viral infection dramatically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Vero cells with an IC
value of 0.84 μg/ml. Moreover, treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein at the pre-entry stage suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection with an IC
of 94.66 μg/ml. These findings put a spotlight on the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein as a potential therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2.