SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 leads to widespread escape from neutralizing antibody responses
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
On 24th November 2021, the sequence of a new SARS-CoV-2 viral isolate Omicron-B.1.1.529 was announced, containing far more mutations in Spike (S) than previously reported variants. Neutralization titers of Omicron by sera from vaccinees and convalescent subjects infected with early pandemic Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or Delta are substantially reduced, or the sera failed to neutralize. Titers against Omicron are boosted by third vaccine doses and are high in both vaccinated individuals and those infected by Delta. Mutations in Omicron knock out or substantially reduce neutralization by most of the large panel of potent monoclonal antibodies and antibodies under commercial development. Omicron S has structural changes from earlier viruses and uses mutations that confer tight binding to ACE2 to unleash evolution driven by immune escape. This leads to a large number of mutations in the ACE2 binding site and rebalances receptor affinity to that of earlier pandemic viruses.
Date Issued
2022-02-03
Date Acceptance
2021-12-29
Citation
Cell, 2022, 185 (3), pp.467-484.e15
ISSN
0092-8674
Publisher
Elseiver
Start Page
467
End Page
484.e15
Journal / Book Title
Cell
Volume
185
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
UK Research and Innovation
UK Research and Innovation
National Institute for Health Research
National Institute for Health Research
UKRI MRC COVID-19 Rapid Response Call
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35081335
PII: S0092-8674(21)01578-6
Grant Number
RP-2016-07-012
9815274 MC_PC_19025
1257927
HPRU-2012-10064
NIHR201385
MC_PC19025
Subjects
Omicron
RBD
SARS-CoV-2
Spike
immune evasion
receptor interaction
vaccines
variants
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2022-01-04