SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike recognition by plasma from individuals receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-weeks interval between doses

Chatterjee, D.; Tauzin, A.; Marchitto, L.; Gong, S. Y.; Boutin, M.; Bourassa, C.; Beaudoin-Bussieres, G.; Bo, Y.; Ding, S.; Laumaea, A.; Vezina, D.; Perreault, J.; Gokool, L.; Morrisseau, C.; Arlotto, P.; Fournier, E.; Guilbault, A.; Delisle, B.; Levade, I.; Goyette, G.; Gendron-Lepage, G.; Medjahed, H.; De Serres, G.; Tremblay, C.; Martel-Laferriere, V.; Kaufmann, D. E.; Bazin, R.; Prevost, J.; Moreira, S.; Richard, J.; Cote, M.; Finzi, A.

doi:10.1101/2021.12.21.473679

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.12.21.473679

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike recognition by plasma from individuals receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-weeks interval between doses

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Abstract

Continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) is fueling the COVID-19 pandemic. Omicron (B.1.1.529), is rapidly spreading worldwide. The large number of mutations in its Spike raised concerns about a major antigenic drift that could significantly decrease vaccine efficacy and infection-induced immunity. A long interval between BNT162b2 mRNA doses was shown to elicit antibodies that efficiently recognize Spikes from different VOCs. Here we evaluated the recognition of Omicron Spike by plasma from a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 naive and previously-infected individuals that received their BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine 16-weeks apart. Omicron Spike was recognized less efficiently than D614G, Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta Spikes. We compared to plasma activity from participants receiving a short (4-weeks) interval regimen. Plasma from individuals of the long interval cohort recognized and neutralized better the Omicron Spike compared to those that received a short interval. Whether this difference confers any clinical benefit against Omicron remains unknown.

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Chatterjee, D., Tauzin, A., Marchitto, L., Gong, S. Y., Boutin, M., Bourassa, C., Beaudoin-Bussieres, G., Bo, Y., Ding, S., Laumaea, A., Vezina, D., Perreault, J., Gokool, L., Morrisseau, C., Arlotto, P., Fournier, E., Guilbault, A., Delisle, B., Levade, I., Goyette, G., Gendron-Lepage, G., Medjahed, H., De Serres, G., Tremblay, C., Martel-Laferriere, V., Kaufmann, D. E., Bazin, R., Prevost, J., Moreira, S., Richard, J., Cote, M., Finzi, A.. 2021-12-23. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike recognition by plasma from individuals receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-weeks interval between doses. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.21.473679

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