A specific anti-IFITM2 antibody bars the way to SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells

Abstract

SUMMARYThe early steps of viral infection involve protein complexes and structural lipid rearrangements, which mark the characteristic strategies of each virus in entering permissive host cells. Human IFITM proteins have been described as inhibitors of a broad range of viruses. Despite their homology and functional redundancy, recently it has been surprisingly shown that SARS-CoV-2 is able to specifically hijack the IFITM2 protein. Here has been reported the characterization of a newly generated specific anti-IFITM2 mAb able to impair SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein internalization and, consequently, to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effects and syncytia formation. Importantly, as evidence of the more general involvement of IFITM2 in virus entry, the anti-IFITM2 mAb was able to efficiently reduce HSVs- and RSV-dependent cytopathic effects. Hence, IFITM proteins could be promising targets that can foster the development of biological antiviral molecules, or suggest additional therapeutic strategies for the treatment of viral infections.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT