The SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron Is Able to Escape Vaccine-Induced Humoral Immune Responses, but Is Counteracted by Booster Vaccination

Vaccines

Sascha Hein¹  Eberhard Hildt¹  Younes Husria¹  Nuka Ivalu Benz¹  Barbara S. Schnierle²  Christine von Rhein²  Florian D. Hastert²  Doris Oberle³  Thorsten J. Maier³ 

[1] Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany;Department of Virology, Section AIDS and Newly Emerging Pathogens, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany;Division of Pharmacovigilance, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany;

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    Delta;    Omicron;    vaccine;    neutralization;   

DOI  :  10.3390/vaccines10050794

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron has spread world-wide and is responsible for rapid increases in infections, including in populations with high vaccination rates. Here, we analysed in the sera of vaccinated individuals the antibody binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and the neutralization of wild-type (WT), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529; BA.1) pseudotyped vectors. Although sera from individuals immunized with vector vaccines (Vaxzevria; AZ and COVID-19 Janssen, Ad26.COV2.S; J&J) were able to bind and neutralize WT and Delta, they showed only background levels towards Omicron. In contrast, mRNA (Comirnaty; BNT) or heterologous (AZ/BNT) vaccines induced weak, but detectable responses against Omicron. While RBD-binding antibody levels decreased significantly six months after full vaccination, the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-directed avidity remained constant. However, this still coincided with a significant decrease in neutralization activity against all variants. A third booster vaccination with BNT significantly increased the humoral immune responses against all tested variants, including Omicron. In conclusion, only vaccination schedules that included at least one dose of mRNA vaccine and especially an mRNA booster vaccination induced sufficient antibody levels with neutralization capacity against multiple variants, including Omicron.

【 授权许可】

Unknown