Extracellular vesicles containing ACE2 efficiently prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein-containing virus

16 SARS-CoV-2 entry is mediated by binding of the spike protein (S) to the surface 17 receptor ACE2 and subsequent priming by TMPRRS2 allowing membrane fusion. 18 Here, we produced extracellular vesicles (EVs) exposing ACE2 and demonstrate that 19 ACE2-EVs are efficient decoys for SARS-CoV-2 S protein-containing lentivirus. 20 Reduction of infectivity positively correlates with the level of ACE2, is 500 to 1500 21 times more efficient than with soluble ACE2 and further enhanced by the inclusion of 22 TMPRSS2. 23 24 MAIN 25 SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19 infection outbreak 1. Viral entry into 26 host cells is mediated by the interaction of the spike (S) protein on the surface of 27 (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted July 8, 2020. ; https://doi.