Cited by 1,147SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections Studiesvaccines and immunoinformatics approaches

SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 escapes neutralization by South African COVID-19 donor plasma

Open access
Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt, Ayres, Frances, Hermanus, Tandile, Madzivhandila, Mashudu, Kgagudi, Prudence, Oosthuysen, Brent, Lambson, Bronwen E., de Oliveira, Tulio +11 more·2021·Nature Medicine

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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), a novel lineage of coronavirus causing COVID-19, contains substitutions in two immunodominant domains of the spike protein. Here, we show that pseudovirus expressing 501Y.V2 spike protein completely escapes three classes of therapeutically relevant antibodies. This pseudovirus also exhibits substantial to complete escape from neutralization, but not binding, by convalescent plasma. These data highlight the prospect of reinfection with antigenically distinct variants and foreshadows reduced efficacy of spike-based vaccines.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41591-021-01285-x

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  • Neutralizing antibody titres against certain SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.2 (Delta), were lower than those against the parental strain WA1/2020.

    “As previously reported for other vaccines29–33, the neutralizing antibody titres against certain SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as the B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants, were lower than those against the parental strain WA1/2020.”

    From Optimization of non-coding regions for a non-modified mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (2022) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Figure 2 passage reports reduced neutralization of 501Y.V2 (Beta) relative to the original Wuhan-1 D614G lineage using convalescent plasma; the vaccine discussion also reports reduced neutralization of Beta by vaccinee sera. The paper does not address Delta, and its tested comparator is Wuhan-1 D614G, not the specified WA1/2020 strain. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • These variants are partially resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies against spike, convalescent plasma, and sera from vaccinated participants.

    “recent reports suggest that these variants are partially resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies against spike protein, by convalescent plasma and, notably, by sera from participants who have received severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines91,94,95.”
  • In convalescent donors infected with prototype lineage virus, 48% of serum samples could not neutralize B.1.351, and the rest showed reduced neutralization titers by a factor of 3 to 86.

    “The sensitivity of B.1.351 to neutralizing antibodies from convalescent donors infected with the prototype lineage virus, assessed with a spike-pseudovirus neutralization assay, indicated that 48% of serum samples were unable to neutralize B.1.351, with the rest showing a reduction in neutralization titers by a factor of 3 to 86.21”
  • Mutations in B.1.351 and P.1 variants are associated with the more pronounced loss of neutralizing capacity.

    “In contrast, mutations in B.1.351 and P.1 variants are associated with the more pronounced loss of neutralizing capacity.15,16,22,23,25”
  • Sera from PIDs who experienced symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and who had detectable anti-RBD IgG titers before vaccination displayed generally weak nAb titers against Wuhan-Hu-1 at 1 to 9 months after infection and lower or nonexistent titers against the B.1.351 variants.

    “Similarly, sera from PIDs who experienced symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and who had detectable anti-RBD IgG titers before vaccination displayed generally weak nAb titers against Wuhan-Hu-1 at 1 to 9 months after infection and lower or nonexistent titers against the B.1.351 variants, in agreement with another study (69).”

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Authors
Wibmer, C. K., Ayres, F., Hermanus, T., Madzivhandila, M., Kgagudi, P., Oosthuysen, B., Lambson, B. E., de Oliveira, T., Vermeulen, M., van der Berg, K., Rossouw, T., Boswell, M., Ueckermann, V., Meiring, S., von Gottberg, A., Cohen, C., Morris, L., Bhiman, J. N., & Moore, P. L.
Affiliations
  • National Health Laboratory Service (ZA)
  • South African National Blood Service (ZA)
  • University of Pretoria (ZA)
  • Steve Biko Hospital (ZA)
Corresponding author
Moore, Penny L.
Venue
Nature Medicine
Published
2021-03-02
Volume
27
Issue
4
Pages
622-625
ISSN
  • 1078-8956 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-170X
OpenAlex
W3133794453
Cited by
1,147
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 314 · 2021: 634 · 2020: 4
FWCI
87.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • UpSpace Institutional Repository (University of Pretoria) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (221003/Z/20/Z, 221003)
  • Government of the United Kingdom
  • Royal Society
  • National Research Foundation (98341)
  • South African Medical Research Council (98341, SHIPNCD 76756, 96825)
  • Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
  • African Academy of Sciences
  • National Institutes of Health (98341, COVID-19)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (5 U01IP001048-05-00, U01IP001048)
  • Medical Research Council (COVID-19)
  • Fogarty International Center (R21TW011454, D43TW010345)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, B.1.351 variant, spike protein mutations, antibody escape, neutralization, convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibodies, reinfection, vaccine efficacy, pseudovirus, spike protein binding

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