Striking Antibody Evasion Manifested by the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2
Liu et al.,
Striking Antibody Evasion Manifested by the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2,
bioRxiv, doi:10.1101/2021.12.14.472719 (Preprint) (In Vitro)
In Vitro study (Vero-E6-TMPRSS2) showing 18 of 19 monoclonal antibodies were no longer effective or significantly impaired with B.1.1.529 omicron.
4 In Vitro studies support the efficacy of bamlanivimab/etesevimab
[Liu, Sheward, VanBlargan, Zhou].
Liu et al., 15 Dec 2021, preprint, 23 authors.
In Vitro studies are an important part of preclinical research, however results may be very different in vivo.
Abstract: bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.14.472719; this version posted December 17, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint
(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Striking Antibody Evasion Manifested by the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2
1
Lihong Liu1*, Sho Iketani1,2*, Yicheng Guo1*, Jasper F-W. Chan3, 4*, Maple Wang1*, Liyuan
2
Liu5*, Yang Luo1, Hin Chu3,4, Yiming Huang5, Manoj S. Nair1, Jian Yu1, Kenn K-H. Chik4,
3
Terrence T-T. Yuen3, Chaemin Yoon3, Kelvin K-W. To3,4, Honglin Chen3,4, Michael T. Yin1,6,
4
Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk1,6, Yaoxing Huang1, Harris H. Wang5, Zizhang Sheng1,
5
Kwok-Yung Yuen3,4, David D. Ho1,2,6^
6
7
1
8
Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
9
2
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of
10
Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
11
3
12
Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong,
13
Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
14
4
15
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
16
5
17
Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
18
6
19
of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection,
Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park,
Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College
20
21
* These authors contributed equally
22
^ Address correspondence to David D. Ho (dh2994@cumc.columbia.edu, 212-304-6101, 701 W
23
168th St, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10032)
24
25
Word count: 3309
1
bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.14.472719; this version posted December 17, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint
(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
26
Abstract
27
28
The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 was only recently detected in southern Africa,
29
but its subsequent spread has been extensive, both regionally and globally1. It is expected to
30
become dominant in the coming weeks2, probably due to enhanced transmissibility. A striking
31
feature of this variant is the large number of spike mutations3 that pose a threat to the efficacy of
32
current COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies4. This concern is amplified by the findings
33
from our study. We found B.1.1.529 to be markedly resistant to neutralization by serum not only
34
from convalescent patients, but also from individuals vaccinated with one of the four widely used
35
COVID-19 vaccines. Even serum from persons vaccinated and boosted with mRNA-based
36
vaccines exhibited substantially diminished neutralizing activity against B.1.1.529. By evaluating
37
a panel of monoclonal antibodies to all known epitope clusters on the spike protein, we noted that
38
the activity of 18 of the 19 antibodies tested were either abolished or impaired, including ones
39
currently authorized or approved for use in patients. In addition, we also identified four new spike
40
mutations (S371L, N440K, G446S, and Q493R) that confer greater antibody resistance..
liu3
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments. Vaccines and
treatments are complementary. All practical, effective, and safe means should
be used based on risk/benefit analysis. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention
is 100% available and effective for all current and future variants. We do not
provide medical advice. Before taking any medication, consult a qualified
physician who can provide personalized advice and details of risks and
benefits based on your medical history and situation.
FLCCC and
WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Submit