Reduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization

Delphine Planas, David Veyer, Artem Baidaliuk, Isabelle Staropoli, Florence Guivel-Benhassine, Maaran Michael Rajah, Cyril Planchais, Françoise Porrot, Nicolas Robillard, Julien Puech, Matthieu Prot, Floriane Gallais, Pierre Gantner, Aurélie Velay, Julien Guen, Najiby Kassis-Chikhani, Dhiaeddine Edriss, Laurent Belec, Aymeric Seve, Laura Courtellemont, Hélène Péré, Laurent Hocqueloux, Samira Fafi-Kremer, Thierry Prazuck, Hugo Mouquet, Timothée Bruel (), Etienne Simon-Lorière, Felix A. Rey and Olivier Schwartz ()
Additional contact information
Delphine Planas: Institut Pasteur
David Veyer: Université de Paris and Sorbonne Université
Artem Baidaliuk: Institut Pasteur
Isabelle Staropoli: Institut Pasteur
Florence Guivel-Benhassine: Institut Pasteur
Maaran Michael Rajah: Institut Pasteur
Cyril Planchais: Institut Pasteur
Françoise Porrot: Institut Pasteur
Nicolas Robillard: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Julien Puech: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Matthieu Prot: Institut Pasteur
Floriane Gallais: CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie
Pierre Gantner: CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie
Aurélie Velay: CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie
Julien Guen: Service de Gériatrie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Najiby Kassis-Chikhani: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Dhiaeddine Edriss: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Laurent Belec: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris
Aymeric Seve: CHR d’Orléans, Service de Maladies Infectieuses
Laura Courtellemont: CHR d’Orléans, Service de Maladies Infectieuses
Hélène Péré: Université de Paris and Sorbonne Université
Laurent Hocqueloux: CHR d’Orléans, Service de Maladies Infectieuses
Samira Fafi-Kremer: CHU de Strasbourg, Laboratoire de Virologie
Thierry Prazuck: CHR d’Orléans, Service de Maladies Infectieuses
Hugo Mouquet: Institut Pasteur
Timothée Bruel: Institut Pasteur
Etienne Simon-Lorière: Institut Pasteur
Felix A. Rey: Institut Pasteur
Olivier Schwartz: Institut Pasteur

Nature, 2021, vol. 596, issue 7871, 276-280

Abstract: Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 lineage was identified in October 2020 in India1–5. Since then, it has become dominant in some regions of India and in the UK, and has spread to many other countries6. The lineage includes three main subtypes (B1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3), which contain diverse mutations in the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that may increase the immune evasion potential of these variants. B.1.617.2—also termed the Delta variant—is believed to spread faster than other variants. Here we isolated an infectious strain of the Delta variant from an individual with COVID-19 who had returned to France from India. We examined the sensitivity of this strain to monoclonal antibodies and to antibodies present in sera from individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 (hereafter referred to as convalescent individuals) or who had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and then compared this strain with other strains of SARS-CoV-2. The Delta variant was resistant to neutralization by some anti-NTD and anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies, including bamlanivimab, and these antibodies showed impaired binding to the spike protein. Sera collected from convalescent individuals up to 12 months after the onset of symptoms were fourfold less potent against the Delta variant relative to the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7). Sera from individuals who had received one dose of the Pfizer or the AstraZeneca vaccine had a barely discernible inhibitory effect on the Delta variant. Administration of two doses of the vaccine generated a neutralizing response in 95% of individuals, with titres three- to fivefold lower against the Delta variant than against the Alpha variant. Thus, the spread of the Delta variant is associated with an escape from antibodies that target non-RBD and RBD epitopes of the spike protein.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03777-9

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