Receptor-binding domain
A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a protein region that specifically recognizes and binds a host-cell receptor.
A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a protein region that specifically recognizes and binds a host-cell receptor. In SARS-CoV-2, the RBD is part of the spike glycoprotein and mediates interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a critical step in viral entry. Its exposed and functionally important surface makes it a major target of neutralizing antibodies and monoclonal antibodies, while changes in the RBD can influence the balance among ACE2 binding, viral viability, and antibody escape.
Because the SARS-CoV-2 RBD is highly immunogenic, it is used in vaccine antigens, serological measurements of anti-RBD IgG, and the development of diagnostic binders such as single-chain variable fragments (scFvs). RBD-focused vaccine designs include heterologous or tandem RBD antigens and dimeric mRNA constructs intended to broaden responses against viral variants and related coronaviruses. Epitope mapping, deep mutational scanning, and predictive learning are used to characterize antibody recognition and identify mutations that may reduce neutralization while retaining receptor-binding function.
Where the papers sit
9 papers from the last 6 months study receptor-binding domain directly · updated from PubMed 1 Nov 2026
Study type 0 clinical trials · 1 observational · 3 human data · 5 preclinical
Themes one subject · 1 paradigm shift
Those 9 are all about one subject.
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SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Immunity
Vaccine design is moving toward broader, more durable SARS-CoV-2 protection through variant-updated, tandem, dimeric and intranasal RBD formulations. Heterologous mRNA boosting and lipid nanoparticles are being evaluated alongside DNA and chimpanzee adenovirus platforms, with human antibody kinetics and transcript integrity increasingly informing development. Neutralizing and bactericidal responses, cross-variant protection, and resilience to predicted escape mutations recur as key endpoints. Epitope mapping and anti-RBD scFv libraries extend the work toward antibody-guided vaccine refinement and diagnostics.
Broad variant protection requires multivalent RBD presentation rather than reliance on a single RBD antigen
The heterodimeric KP.3/key-mutant RBD mRNA vaccine in mice 42687061Sep and the intranasal chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine expressing tandem RBDs from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV in mice and Syrian hamsters 42497177Jul each found that combining antigenically distinct RBDs produced broad protection across divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants, with the latter also extending protection to SARS-CoV and limiting transmission. This reverses the assumption that a single optimized RBD is an adequate basis for variant-resilient vaccination: vaccine design shifts toward deliberately multivalent RBD architectures to broaden and durablely sustain immunity.
Papers
The 9 papers from the last 6 months that study receptor-binding domain directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Immunity (9)
- In Vivo Blood Kinetics and Transcript Integrity of Three mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccines in Humans. ACS nano · 27 Oct 2026 PMID 42937588
- Virus-like particle display of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain using a modular tag/catcher system enhances immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine in mice. Vaccine · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42700748
- A dimeric mRNA vaccine based on key-mutant and KP.3 RBDs induces broad-spectrum immunity and protects mice against JN.1 and XDV challenges. Molecular biomedicine · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42687061
- Functional neutralizing and bactericidal antibody responses induced by dual-target immunization with SARS-CoV-2 RBD and Neisseria meningitidis antigens in mice. Vaccine · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585813
- Anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain IgG titers and associated factors after heterologous mRNA booster vaccination in individuals primed with the inactivated vaccine. Acta tropica · 31 Jul 2026 PMID 42537920
- Anti-RBD Single-Chain Variable Fragments Library (scFv Library) Generation toward the Development of a Diagnostic Platform for SARS-CoV-2. ACS infectious diseases · 27 Jul 2026 PMID 42504989
- Broad and durable protection against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV by an intranasal chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine expressing tandem RBDs and nucleocapsid. PLoS pathogens · 24 Jul 2026 PMID 42497177
- Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 antibody resilience via prediction and design of escape viral variants. Cell systems · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42468530
- Mass spectrometry-based mapping of conformational epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 antigens targeted by monoclonal antibodies. International journal of biological macromolecules · 21 Jun 2026 PMID 42324012
By study type
Observational studies and case reports (1)
- Anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain IgG titers and associated factors after heterologous mRNA booster vaccination in individuals primed with the inactivated vaccine. Acta tropica · 31 Jul 2026 PMID 42537920
Human data, design not indexed (3)
- In Vivo Blood Kinetics and Transcript Integrity of Three mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccines in Humans. ACS nano · 27 Oct 2026 PMID 42937588
- Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 antibody resilience via prediction and design of escape viral variants. Cell systems · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42468530
- Mass spectrometry-based mapping of conformational epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 antigens targeted by monoclonal antibodies. International journal of biological macromolecules · 21 Jun 2026 PMID 42324012
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (5)
- Virus-like particle display of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain using a modular tag/catcher system enhances immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine in mice. Vaccine · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42700748
- A dimeric mRNA vaccine based on key-mutant and KP.3 RBDs induces broad-spectrum immunity and protects mice against JN.1 and XDV challenges. Molecular biomedicine · 3 Sept 2026 PMID 42687061
- Functional neutralizing and bactericidal antibody responses induced by dual-target immunization with SARS-CoV-2 RBD and Neisseria meningitidis antigens in mice. Vaccine · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585813
- Anti-RBD Single-Chain Variable Fragments Library (scFv Library) Generation toward the Development of a Diagnostic Platform for SARS-CoV-2. ACS infectious diseases · 27 Jul 2026 PMID 42504989
- Broad and durable protection against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV by an intranasal chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine expressing tandem RBDs and nucleocapsid. PLoS pathogens · 24 Jul 2026 PMID 42497177
Written from 9 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-10-21. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.