Abnova Uses Its Rapid DNAx™ Immune Technology for 2019-CoV Wuhan Coronavirus Antibody Production

Neihu, Taiwan (January 31, 2020)

Abnova announced today to use its rapid DNAx™ Immune technology for 2019-CoV Wuhan coronavirus antibody production. The recent outbreak of new 2019-CoV coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan has heightened the global health threat of human-to-human transmission. Currently quality antibodies to the new 2019-CoV coronavirus antigens are not available. As a result, there is an urgent need to generate a large repertoire of antibodies to the evolving 2019-CoV coronavirus. Abnova’s DNAx™ antibody platform produces faster and better antibodies than conventional protein immunization.

Since the first onset of 2019-nCoV virus on 12/12/2019 in Wuhan, the complete genome sequence of the 2019-CoV coronavirus has become accessible in the public domain on 1/11/2020. Abnova’s DNAx™ antibodies are produced directly from the coronavirus gene sequences targeting specific viral antigens by DNA immunization. Moreover, DNA immunization produces more native and conformational antibodies than recombinant protein immunization. The generated coronavirus antibodies can be utilized by the global community for diagnostics, therapeutic monoclonal antibody and viral vaccine development.

The 2019-CoV coronavirus possesses distinct sequences comparing with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, also a coronavirus. Specifically, all the previously generated E2 envelop glycoprotein antibodies against the SARS virus cannot target the 2019-CoV Wuhan coronavirus because of non-conserved epitopes. E2 antibodies accounts for the majority of the publically available antibodies. On the other hand, the SARS virus’ N nucleocapsid protein, S spike glycoprotein, and M membrane glycoprotein are conserved in the 2019-CoV coronavirus but the it difficult to ascertain if these antibodies are sufficiently conformational for both diagnostic and therapeutic use.