Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant in mRNA-1273 vaccine–boosted nonhuman primates

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abl8912
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T03:58:45Z
• Authors: Kizzmekia S. Corbett; Matthew Gagne; Danielle A. Wagner; Sarah O’ Connell; Sandeep R. Narpala; Dillon R. Flebbe; Shayne F. Andrew; Rachel L. Davis; Barbara Flynn; Timothy S. Johnston; Christopher D. St...; Lilin Lai; Daniel Valentin; Alex Van Ry; Zackery Flinchbaugh; Anne P. Werner; Juan I. Moliva; Manjari Sriparna; Sijy O’Dell; Stephen D. Schmidt; Courtney Tucker; Angela Choi; Matthew Koch; Kevin W. Bock; Mahnaz Minai; Bianca M. Nagata; Gabriela S. Alvarado; Amy R. Henry; Farida Laboune; Chaim A. Schramm; Yi Zhang; Eun Sung Yang; Lingshu Wang; Misook Choe; Seyhan Boyoglu-Ba...; Shi Wei; Evan Lamb; Saule T. Nurmukha...; Samantha J. Provost; Mitzi M. Donaldson; Josue Marquez; John-Paul M. Todd; Anthony Cook; Alan Dodson; Andrew Pekosz; Eli Boritz; Aurélie Ploquin; Nicole Doria-Rose; Laurent Pessaint; Hanne Andersen; Kathryn E. Foulds; John Misasi; Kai Wu; Andrea Carfi; Martha C. Nason; John Mascola; Ian N. Moore; Darin K. Edwards; Mark G. Lewis; Mehul S. Suthar; Mario Roederer; Adrian McDermott; Daniel C. Douek; Nancy J. Sullivan; Barney S. Graham; Robert A. Seder
• Keywords: BETA (programming language); Coronavirus; Booster dose; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

A look at variant-specific boosters The evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants concern (VOCs) has raised the question whether current COVID-19 vaccines protect against VOCs and if a variant specific vaccine may be needed. Of currently identified VOCs, Delta is believed to most transmissible, whereas Beta appears resistant. Corbett et al . looked effect boosting using either original WA-1 strain or variant–specific booster. Around 6 months after primary two-dose series, third boost vaccination resulted in higher neutralizing antibody levels nonhuman primates. Regardless was from Beta-specific version, similar increases were observed enhanced viral protection. —PNK