PreprintCited by 440SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesAnimal Virus Infections Studies

Reduced Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant by Vaccine Sera and Monoclonal Antibodies

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Wilhelm, Alexander, Widera, Marek, Grikscheit, Katharina, Toptan, Tuna, Schenk, Barbara, Pallas, Christiane, Metzler, Melinda, Kohmer, Niko +5 more·2021·EBioMedicine

Abstract

Due to numerous mutations in the spike protein, the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (B.1.1.529) raises serious concerns since it may significantly limit the antibody-mediated neutralization and increase the risk of reinfections. While a rapid increase in the number of cases is being reported worldwide, until now there has been uncertainty about the efficacy of vaccinations and monoclonal antibodies. Our in vitro findings using authentic SARS-CoV-2 variants indicate that in contrast to the currently circulating Delta variant, the neutralization efficacy of vaccine-elicited sera against Omicron was severely reduced highlighting T-cell mediated immunity as essential barrier to prevent severe COVID-19. Since SARS-CoV-2 Omicron was resistant to casirivimab and imdevimab, genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 may be needed before initiating mAb treatment. Variant-specific vaccines and mAb agents may be required to treat COVID-19 due to Omicron and other emerging variants of concern.

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  1. [15]Cele S Jackson L Khoury DS Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization Nature 602 7898 2022 654 656 35016196 PMC8866126

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Authors
Wilhelm, A., Widera, M., Grikscheit, K., Toptan, T., Schenk, B., Pallas, C., Metzler, M., Kohmer, N., Hoehl, S., Helfritz, F. A., Wolf, T., Goetsch, U., & Ciesek, S.
Affiliations
  • Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
  • Bürgerhospital Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Widera, Marek
  • Ciesek, Sandra
Venue
EBioMedicine
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2021-12-08
Volume
82
Pages
104158-104158
ISSN
2352-3964 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4285023345
Cited by
440
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 93 · 2022: 260 · 2021: 39
FWCI
48.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • EBioMedicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • medRxiv (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Fraunhofer-Publica (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
  • Publication Server of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (Goethe University Frankfurt) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • Publication Server of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (Goethe University Frankfurt) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (SARS-CoV-2, 02WRS1621C)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, BA.1, BA.2, neutralizing antibodies, waning immunity, vaccine escape, convalescent serum, monoclonal antibodies, casirivimab/imdevimab, sotrovimab, spike protein mutations, breakthrough infection
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, BNT162 Vaccine, COVID-19 Serotherapy, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibodies, Viral, Humans, Immunization, Passive, Viral Vaccines, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized

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