Considerable escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron to antibody neutralization

Delphine Planas, Nell Saunders, Piet Maes, Florence Guivel-Benhassine, Cyril Planchais, Julian Buchrieser, William-Henry Bolland, Françoise Porrot, Isabelle Staropoli, Frederic Lemoine, Hélène Péré, David Veyer, Julien Puech, Julien Rodary, Guy Baele, Simon Dellicour, Joren Raymenants, Sarah Gorissen, Caspar Geenen, Bert Vanmechelen, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga, Joan Martí-Carreras, Lize Cuypers, Aymeric Sève, Laurent Hocqueloux, Thierry Prazuck, Félix A. Rey, Etienne Simon-Loriere, Timothée Bruel (), Hugo Mouquet (), Emmanuel André () and Olivier Schwartz ()
Additional contact information
Delphine Planas: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Nell Saunders: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Piet Maes: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Florence Guivel-Benhassine: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Cyril Planchais: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM U1222
Julian Buchrieser: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
William-Henry Bolland: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Françoise Porrot: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Isabelle Staropoli: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Frederic Lemoine: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS USR 3756
Hélène Péré: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou
David Veyer: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou
Julien Puech: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou
Julien Rodary: Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou
Guy Baele: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Simon Dellicour: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Joren Raymenants: KU Leuven
Sarah Gorissen: KU Leuven
Caspar Geenen: KU Leuven
Bert Vanmechelen: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Tony Wawina-Bokalanga: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Joan Martí-Carreras: Rega Institute, KU Leuven
Lize Cuypers: National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven
Aymeric Sève: CHR d’Orléans
Laurent Hocqueloux: CHR d’Orléans
Thierry Prazuck: CHR d’Orléans
Félix A. Rey: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Etienne Simon-Loriere: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris
Timothée Bruel: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569
Hugo Mouquet: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM U1222
Emmanuel André: KU Leuven
Olivier Schwartz: Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569

Nature, 2022, vol. 602, issue 7898, 671-675

Abstract: Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was first identified in November 2021 in Botswana and South Africa1–3. It has since spread to many countries and is expected to rapidly become dominant worldwide. The lineage is characterized by the presence of around 32 mutations in spike—located mostly in the N-terminal domain and the receptor-binding domain—that may enhance viral fitness and enable antibody evasion. Here we isolated an infectious Omicron virus in Belgium from a traveller returning from Egypt. We examined its sensitivity to nine monoclonal antibodies that have been clinically approved or are in development4, and to antibodies present in 115 serum samples from COVID-19 vaccine recipients or individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. Omicron was completely or partially resistant to neutralization by all monoclonal antibodies tested. Sera from recipients of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, sampled five months after complete vaccination, barely inhibited Omicron. Sera from COVID-19-convalescent patients collected 6 or 12 months after symptoms displayed low or no neutralizing activity against Omicron. Administration of a booster Pfizer dose as well as vaccination of previously infected individuals generated an anti-Omicron neutralizing response, with titres 6-fold to 23-fold lower against Omicron compared with those against Delta. Thus, Omicron escapes most therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and, to a large extent, vaccine-elicited antibodies. However, Omicron is neutralized by antibodies generated by a booster vaccine dose.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04389-z

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