Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by antibodies to the proteolytic cleavage sites of the spike protein

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Antibodies to linear epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been discovered in sera from infected individuals and some of these epitopes lie next to or even encompass the proteolytic cleavage sites of the spike protein. Proteolytic processing is important for activation of the spike protein. We now want to test whether antibodies against these epitopes, which we generate through immunization of mice with the corresponding peptides, can inhibit the proteolytic activation of the spike protein, spike-mediated membrane fusion, and spike-driven infection.