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Dr. Tao, Mi-Hua

Research Fellow
  • 02-2789-9151 (L) (Lab) (Room No: N229)
  • 02-2652-3078 (O) (Office)
  • 02-2782-9142 (Fax)

Specialty:
  • Viral and Cancer Immunology
  • Viral and Cancer Immunotherapy
  • Vaccine Development
  • Gene Therapy

Education and Positions:
  • Ph.D.  Columbia University (Microbiology and Immunology).

    Postdoctoral Fellow.  Stanford University (Oncology)


  • 日常維護流程─ FACSCelesta
  • 感染性檢體流式細胞儀使用規則(2017)

  • Highlight Detail
    ...

    Development of AAV-delivered broadly neutralizing anti-human ACE2 antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

    Dr. Tao, Mi-Hua
    Molecular Therapy, Sep 08, 2023

    The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2, resulting in the emergence of new variants that are resistant to existing vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, has raised the need for novel strategies to combat the persistent global COVID-19 epidemic. In this study, a monoclonal anti-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) antibody, ch2H2, was isolated and humanized to block the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD) binding to hACE2, the major entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2. This antibody targets the RBD binding site on the N-terminus of hACE2 and has a high binding affinity to outcompete the RBD. In vitro, ch2H2 antibody showed potent inhibitory activity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the most antigenically drifted and immune-evading variant Omicron. In vivo, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated delivery enabled a sustained expression of mAb ch2H2, generating a high concentration of antibodies in mice. A single administration of AAV-delivered mAb ch2H2 significantly reduced viral RNA load and infectious virions and mitigated pulmonary pathological changes in mice challenged with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 subvariant. Collectively, the results suggest that AAV-delivered hACE2-blocking antibody provides a promising approach for developing broad-spectrum antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other hACE2-dependent pathogens that may emerge in the future.