Antibody escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 from vaccine and BA.1 serum

10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.005

Cell

Contributing to research themes:

The Omicron lineage of SARS-CoV-2, which was first described in November 2021, spread rapidly to become globally dominant and has split into a number of sublineages. BA.1 dominated the initial wave but has been replaced by BA.2 in many countries. Recent sequencing from South Africa’s Gauteng region uncovered two new sublineages, BA.4 and BA.5, which are taking over locally, driving a new wave. BA.4 and BA.5 contain identical spike sequences, and although closely related to BA.2, they contain further mutations in the receptor-binding domain of their spikes. Here, we study the neutralization of BA.4/5 using a range of vaccine and naturally immune serum and panels of monoclonal antibodies. BA.4/5 shows reduced neutralization by the serum from individuals vaccinated with triple doses of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine compared with BA.1 and BA.2. Furthermore, using the serum from BA.1 vaccine breakthrough infections, there are, likewise, significant reductions in the neutralization of BA.4/5, raising the possibility of repeat Omicron infections.

Author list:

Affiliations:

  1. Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  2. Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
  3. Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  4. Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
  5. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
  6. Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, UK
  7. Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  8. Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  9. Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  10. Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  11. Viral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent and Greenwich Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK
  12. NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
  13. Centre For Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  14. Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  15. Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Authors:

Aekkachai Tuekprakhon1,16, Rungtiwa Nutalai1,16, Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc1,16, Daming Zhou2,3,16, Helen M.Ginn4, Muneeswaran Selvaraj1, Chang Liu1,3, Alexander J. Mentzer1,5, Piyada Supasa1, Helen M. E. Duyvesteyn2, Raksha Das1, Donal Skelly5,6,7, Thomas G. Ritter5, Ali Amini5,6,8, Sagida Bibi9, Sandra Adele5, Sile Ann Johnson5, Bede Constantinides10, Hermione Webster10, Nigel Temperton11, Paul Klenerman5,6,8,12, Eleanor Barnes5,6,8,12, Susanna J. Dunachie5,6,13,14, Derrick Crook10, Andrew J. Pollard9,12, Teresa Lambe3,9, Philip Goulder6,15, Neil G. Paterson4, Mark A. Williams4, David R. Hall4, OPTIC Consortium ISARIC4C Consortium, Elizabeth E. Fry2, Jiandong Huo2,16, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya1,3, Jingshan Ren2, David I. Stuart2,3,4, Gavin R. Screaton1,3