Better at binding SARS-CoV-2: A variant of the human receptor for the virus as a powerful decoy

(American Association for the Advancement of Science) By exploring variants of a soluble version of the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to binds human cells - which are being considered as therapeutic candidates that neutralize COVID-19 infection by acting as a decoy - researchers identified one that binds the virus's spike protein tightly enough to compete with spike binding by monoclonal antibodies.