Abstract
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 evades antibody-mediated neutralization with unprecedented efficiency. At least three Omicron sublineages have been identified-BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3-and BA.2 exhibits increased transmissibility. However, it is currently unknown whether BA.2 differs from the other sublineages regarding cell entry and antibody-mediated inhibition. Here, we show that BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3 enter and fuse target cells with similar efficiency and in an ACE2-dependent manner. However, BA.2 was not efficiently neutralized by seven of eight antibodies used for COVID-19 therapy, including Sotrovimab, which robustly neutralized BA.1. In contrast, BA.2 and BA.3 (but not BA.1) were appreciably neutralized by Cilgavimab, which could constitute a treatment option. Finally, all sublineages were comparably and efficiently neutralized by antibodies induced by BNT162b2 booster vaccination after previous two-dose homologous or heterologous vaccination. Collectively, the Omicron sublineages show comparable cell entry and neutralization by vaccine-induced antibodies but differ in susceptibility to therapeutic antibodies.
Keywords: ACE2; Omicron; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; neutralization; sotrovimab; spike; vaccine.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, Vaccine, spike, antibody, neutralization, omicron, Sotrovimab, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, antibodies, Vaccine, vaccination, therapy, antibody, neutralization, susceptibility, omicron, BNT162b2, Transmissibility, therapeutic, Omicron variant, COVID-19 therapy, Sotrovimab, booster vaccination, Efficiency, therapeutic antibodies, target cells, target cell, vaccine-induced antibodies, cell entry, Antibody-mediated neutralization, FUSE, cilgavimab, neutralized, Seven, variant of SARS-CoV-2, eight, comparable, evade, homologous or heterologous, exhibit, vaccine-induced antibody, 【제목키워드】 therapeutic, comparable,