Striking antibody evasion manifested by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

Lihong Liu, Sho Iketani, Yicheng Guo, Jasper F.-W. Chan, Maple Wang, Liyuan Liu, Yang Luo, Hin Chu, Yiming Huang, Manoj S. Nair, Jian Yu, Kenn K.-H. Chik, Terrence T.-T. Yuen, Chaemin Yoon, Kelvin K.-W. To, Honglin Chen, Michael T. Yin, Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk, Yaoxing Huang, Harris H. Wang, Zizhang Sheng, Kwok-Yung Yuen and David D. Ho ()
Additional contact information
Lihong Liu: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Sho Iketani: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Yicheng Guo: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Jasper F.-W. Chan: The University of Hong Kong
Maple Wang: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Liyuan Liu: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Yang Luo: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Hin Chu: The University of Hong Kong
Yiming Huang: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Manoj S. Nair: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Jian Yu: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Kenn K.-H. Chik: Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics
Terrence T.-T. Yuen: The University of Hong Kong
Chaemin Yoon: The University of Hong Kong
Kelvin K.-W. To: The University of Hong Kong
Honglin Chen: The University of Hong Kong
Michael T. Yin: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Yaoxing Huang: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Harris H. Wang: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Zizhang Sheng: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Kwok-Yung Yuen: The University of Hong Kong
David D. Ho: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Nature, 2022, vol. 602, issue 7898, 676-681

Abstract: Abstract The B.1.1.529/Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was only recently detected in southern Africa, but its subsequent spread has been extensive, both regionally and globally1. It is expected to become dominant in the coming weeks2, probably due to enhanced transmissibility. A striking feature of this variant is the large number of spike mutations3 that pose a threat to the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies4. This concern is amplified by the findings of our study. Here we found that B.1.1.529 is markedly resistant to neutralization by serum not only from patients who recovered from COVID-19, but also from individuals who were vaccinated with one of the four widely used COVID-19 vaccines. Even serum from individuals who were vaccinated and received a booster dose of mRNA-based vaccines exhibited substantially diminished neutralizing activity against B.1.1.529. By evaluating a panel of monoclonal antibodies against all known epitope clusters on the spike protein, we noted that the activity of 17 out of the 19 antibodies tested were either abolished or impaired, including ones that are currently authorized or approved for use in patients. Moreover, we also identified four new spike mutations (S371L, N440K, G446S and Q493R) that confer greater antibody resistance on B.1.1.529. The Omicron variant presents a serious threat to many existing COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, compelling the development of new interventions that anticipate the evolutionary trajectory of SARS-CoV-2.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04388-0

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