Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Sub-lineages BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2

Overview

Journal Cell Host Microbe

Publisher Cell Press

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2022 May 8

PMID 35526534

Authors

John P Evans

Cong Zeng

Panke Qu

Julia Faraone

Yi-Min Zheng

Claire Carlin

Joseph S Bednash

Tongqing Zhou

Gerard Lozanski

Rama Mallampalli

Linda J Saif

Eugene M Oltz

Peter J Mohler

Kai Xu

Richard J Gumina

Shan-Lu Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recent reports of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant sub-lineages, BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2, have reignited concern over potential escape from vaccine- and infection-induced immunity. We examine the sensitivity of these sub-lineages and other major variants to neutralizing antibodies from mRNA-vaccinated and boosted individuals, as well as recovered COVID-19 patients, including those infected with Omicron. We find that all Omicron sub-lineages, especially BA.1 and BA.1.1, exhibit substantial immune escape that is largely overcome by mRNA vaccine booster doses. While Omicron BA.1.1 escapes almost completely from neutralization by early-pandemic COVID-19 patient sera and to a lesser extent from sera of Delta-infected patients, BA.1.1 is sensitive to Omicron-infected patient sera. Critically, all Omicron sub-lineages, including BA.2, are comparably neutralized by Omicron patient sera. These results highlight the importance of booster vaccine doses for protection against all Omicron variants and provide insight into the immunity from natural infection against Omicron sub-lineages.

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