Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization

Sandile Cele(Africa Health Research Institute), Laurelle Jackson(Africa Health Research Institute), David S. Khoury(UNSW Sydney), Khadija Khan(Africa Health Research Institute), Thandeka Moyo-Gwete(National Health Laboratory Service), Houriiyah Tegally(Stellenbosch University), James Emmanuel San, Deborah Cromer(UNSW Sydney), Cathrine Scheepers(National Health Laboratory Service), Daniel G. Amoako(National Health Laboratory Service), Farina Karim(Africa Health Research Institute), Mallory Bernstein(Africa Health Research Institute), Gila Lustig(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Derseree Archary(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Muneerah Smith(University of Cape Town), Yashica Ganga(Africa Health Research Institute), Zesuliwe Jule(Africa Health Research Institute), Kajal Reedoy(Africa Health Research Institute), Shi-Hsia Hwa(Africa Health Research Institute), Jennifer Giandhari, Jonathan M. Blackburn(University of Cape Town), Bernadett I. Gosnell(University of KwaZulu-Natal), Salim S. Abdool Karim(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Willem A. Hanekom(Africa Health Research Institute), NGS-SA(University of Cape Town), Mary‐Ann Davies(National Health Laboratory Service), Marvin Hsiao(National Health Laboratory Service), Darren P. Martin(National Health Laboratory Service), Koleka Mlisana(National Health Laboratory Service), Constantinos Kurt Wibmer(National Health Laboratory Service), Carolyn Williamson(National Health Laboratory Service), Denis York(Molecular Diagnostics Services), COMMIT-KZN Team(Africa Health Research Institute), Rohen Harrichandparsad(University of KwaZulu-Natal), Kobus Herbst(South African Association for Marine Biological Research), Prakash Jeena(Africa Health Research Institute), Thandeka Khoza(Africa Health Research Institute), Henrik N. Kløverpris(University of Copenhagen), Alasdair Leslie(Africa Health Research Institute), Rajhmun Madansein(University of KwaZulu-Natal), Nombulelo Magula(Africa Health Research Institute), Nithendra Manickchund(Africa Health Research Institute), Mohlopheni J. Marakalala(Africa Health Research Institute), Matilda Mazibuko(Africa Health Research Institute), Mosa Moshabela(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Ntombifuthi Mthabela(Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard), Kogie Naidoo(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Zaza M. Ndhlovu(Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard), Thumbi Ndung’u(University of KwaZulu-Natal), Nokuthula Ngcobo(Africa Health Research Institute), Kennedy Nyamande(Africa Health Research Institute), Vinod Patel(University of Alabama at Birmingham), Theresa Smit(University of Alabama at Birmingham), Adrie J. C. Steyn(National Health Laboratory Service), Emily Wong(National Health Laboratory Service), Anne von Gottberg(National Health Laboratory Service), Jinal N. Bhiman(National Health Laboratory Service), Richard Lessells(Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa), Mahomed‐Yunus S. Moosa(University of Washington), Miles P. Davenport(National Health Laboratory Service), Túlio de Oliveira(University of Washington), Penny L. Moore(National Health Laboratory Service), Alex Sigal(Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology)
Nature
December 23, 2021
10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1
Cited by 1,189Open Access
Full Text

Abstract

. Here we investigated Omicron escape from neutralization by antibodies from South African individuals vaccinated with Pfizer BNT162b2. We used blood samples taken soon after vaccination from individuals who were vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated with no evidence of previous infection. We isolated and sequence-confirmed live Omicron virus from an infected person and observed that Omicron requires the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to infect cells. We compared plasma neutralization of Omicron relative to an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and found that neutralization of ancestral virus was much higher in infected and vaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated-only participants. However, both groups showed a 22-fold reduction in vaccine-elicited neutralization by the Omicron variant. Participants who were vaccinated and had previously been infected exhibited residual neutralization of Omicron similar to the level of neutralization of the ancestral virus observed in the vaccination-only group. These data support the notion that reasonable protection against Omicron may be maintained using vaccination approaches.

Related Papers

No related papers found

Powered by citation graph analysis