Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralization by vaccine-induced humoral immunity

• DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.14.21251704
• Publication Date: 2021-02-18T11:09:52Z
• Authors: Wilfredo F. Garci...; Evan C. Lam; Kerri St. Denis; Adam D. Nitido; Zeidy H. Garcia; Blake M. Hauser; Jared Feldman; Maia N. Pavlovic; David J. Gregory; Mark C. Poznansky; Alex Sigal; Aaron G. Schmidt; A. John Iafrate; Vivek Naranbhai; Alejandro B. Balazs
• Keywords: Immune escape; Humoral immunity; Mucosal Immunity

Vaccination elicits immune responses capable of potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2. However, ongoing surveillance has revealed the emergence variants harboring mutations in spike, main target antibodies. To understand impact these variants, we evaluated neutralization potency 99 individuals that received one or two doses either BNT162b2 mRNA-1273 vaccines against pseudoviruses representing 10 globally circulating strains Five pseudoviruses, receptor-binding domain mutations, including K417N/T, E484K, and N501Y, were highly resistant to neutralization. Crossneutralization B.1.351 was comparable SARS-CoV bat-derived WIV1-CoV, suggesting a relatively small number can mediate potent escape from vaccine responses. While clinical resistance remains uncertain, results highlight potential for humoral immunity emphasize need develop broadly protective interventions evolving pandemic.