Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization

Sandile Cele; Laurelle Jackson; David S. Khoury; Khadija Khan; Thandeka Moyo-Gwete; Houriiyah Tegally; James Emmanuel San; Deborah Cromer; Cathrine Scheepers; Daniel G. Amoako; Farina Karim; Mallory Bernstein; Gila Lustig; Derseree Archary; Muneerah Smith; Yashica Ganga; Zesuliwe Jule; Kajal Reedoy; Shi Hsia Hwa; Jennifer Giandhari; Jonathan M. Blackburn; Bernadett I. Gosnell; Salim S. Abdool Karim; Willem Hanekom; NGS-SA; COMMIT-KZN Team; Anne von Gottberg; Jinal N. Bhiman; Richard J. Lessells; Mahomed Yunus S. Moosa; Miles P. Davenport; Tulio de Oliveira; Penny L. Moore; Alex Sigal

doi:10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1

Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization

Sandile Cele, Laurelle Jackson, David S. Khoury, Khadija Khan, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete, Houriiyah Tegally, James Emmanuel San, Deborah Cromer, Cathrine Scheepers, Daniel G. Amoako, Farina Karim, Mallory Bernstein, Gila Lustig, Derseree Archary, Muneerah Smith, Yashica Ganga, Zesuliwe Jule, Kajal Reedoy, Shi Hsia Hwa, Jennifer GiandhariJonathan M. Blackburn, Bernadett I. Gosnell, Salim S. Abdool Karim, Willem Hanekom, NGS-SA, COMMIT-KZN Team, Anne von Gottberg, Jinal N. Bhiman, Richard J. Lessells, Mahomed Yunus S. Moosa, Miles P. Davenport, Tulio de Oliveira, Penny L. Moore, Alex Sigal

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Abstract

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529), first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and lead to re-infections¹. Here we investigated Omicron escape from neutralization by antibodies from South African individuals vaccinated with Pfizer BNT162b2. We used blood samples taken soon after vaccination from individuals who were vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated with no evidence of previous infection. We isolated and sequence-confirmed live Omicron virus from an infected person and observed that Omicron requires the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to infect cells. We compared plasma neutralization of Omicron relative to an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and found that neutralization of ancestral virus was much higher in infected and vaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated-only participants. However, both groups showed a 22-fold reduction in vaccine-elicited neutralization by the Omicron variant. Participants who were vaccinated and had previously been infected exhibited residual neutralization of Omicron similar to the level of neutralization of the ancestral virus observed in the vaccination-only group. These data support the notion that reasonable protection against Omicron may be maintained using vaccination approaches.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	654-656, [1-11]
Number of pages	14
Journal	Nature
Volume	602
Issue number	7898
Early online date	23 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1
Publication status	Published - 24 Feb 2022
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Omicron variant
Vaccination
Pfizer BNT162b2

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Final published versionFinal published version, 4.65 MBLicence: CC BY

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Cele, S., Jackson, L., Khoury, D. S., Khan, K., Moyo-Gwete, T., Tegally, H., San, J. E., Cromer, D., Scheepers, C., Amoako, D. G., Karim, F., Bernstein, M., Lustig, G., Archary, D., Smith, M., Ganga, Y., Jule, Z., Reedoy, K., Hwa, S. H., ... Sigal, A. (2022). Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization. Nature, 602(7898), 654-656, [1-11]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1

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title = "Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization",

abstract = "The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529), first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and lead to re-infections1. Here we investigated Omicron escape from neutralization by antibodies from South African individuals vaccinated with Pfizer BNT162b2. We used blood samples taken soon after vaccination from individuals who were vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated with no evidence of previous infection. We isolated and sequence-confirmed live Omicron virus from an infected person and observed that Omicron requires the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to infect cells. We compared plasma neutralization of Omicron relative to an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and found that neutralization of ancestral virus was much higher in infected and vaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated-only participants. However, both groups showed a 22-fold reduction in vaccine-elicited neutralization by the Omicron variant. Participants who were vaccinated and had previously been infected exhibited residual neutralization of Omicron similar to the level of neutralization of the ancestral virus observed in the vaccination-only group. These data support the notion that reasonable protection against Omicron may be maintained using vaccination approaches.",

keywords = "COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Omicron variant, Vaccination, Pfizer BNT162b2",

author = "Sandile Cele and Laurelle Jackson and Khoury, {David S.} and Khadija Khan and Thandeka Moyo-Gwete and Houriiyah Tegally and San, {James Emmanuel} and Deborah Cromer and Cathrine Scheepers and Amoako, {Daniel G.} and Farina Karim and Mallory Bernstein and Gila Lustig and Derseree Archary and Muneerah Smith and Yashica Ganga and Zesuliwe Jule and Kajal Reedoy and Hwa, {Shi Hsia} and Jennifer Giandhari and Blackburn, {Jonathan M.} and Gosnell, {Bernadett I.} and {Abdool Karim}, {Salim S.} and Willem Hanekom and NGS-SA and {COMMIT-KZN Team} and Mary-Ann Davies and Marvin Hsiao and Darren Martin and Koleka Mlisana and Wibmer, {Constantinos Kurt} and Carolyn Williamson and Denis York and Rohen Harrichandparsad and Kobus Herbst and Prakash Jeena and Thandeka Khoza and Henrik Kl{\o}verpris and Alasdair Leslie and Rajhmun Madansein and Nombulelo Magula and Nithendra Manickchund and Mohlopheni Marakalala and Matilda Mazibuko and Mosa Moshabela and Ntombifuthi Mthabela and Kogie Naidoo and Zaza Ndhlovu and Thumbi Ndung{\textquoteright}u and Nokuthula Ngcobo and Kennedy Nyamande and Vinod Patel and Theresa Smit and Adrie Steyn and Emily Wong and {von Gottberg}, Anne and Bhiman, {Jinal N.} and Lessells, {Richard J.} and Moosa, {Mahomed Yunus S.} and Davenport, {Miles P.} and {de Oliveira}, Tulio and Moore, {Penny L.} and Alex Sigal",

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doi = "10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1",

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Cele, S, Jackson, L, Khoury, DS, Khan, K, Moyo-Gwete, T, Tegally, H, San, JE, Cromer, D, Scheepers, C, Amoako, DG, Karim, F, Bernstein, M, Lustig, G, Archary, D, Smith, M, Ganga, Y, Jule, Z, Reedoy, K, Hwa, SH, Giandhari, J, Blackburn, JM, Gosnell, BI, Abdool Karim, SS, Hanekom, W, NGS-SA, COMMIT-KZN Team, von Gottberg, A, Bhiman, JN, Lessells, RJ, Moosa, MYS, Davenport, MP, de Oliveira, T, Moore, PL & Sigal, A 2022, 'Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization', Nature, vol. 602, no. 7898, pp. 654-656, [1-11]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization

AU - Cele, Sandile

AU - Jackson, Laurelle

AU - Khoury, David S.

AU - Khan, Khadija

AU - Moyo-Gwete, Thandeka

AU - Tegally, Houriiyah

AU - San, James Emmanuel

AU - Cromer, Deborah

AU - Scheepers, Cathrine

AU - Amoako, Daniel G.

AU - Karim, Farina

AU - Bernstein, Mallory

AU - Lustig, Gila

AU - Archary, Derseree

AU - Smith, Muneerah

AU - Ganga, Yashica

AU - Jule, Zesuliwe

AU - Reedoy, Kajal

AU - Hwa, Shi Hsia

AU - Giandhari, Jennifer

AU - Blackburn, Jonathan M.

AU - Gosnell, Bernadett I.

AU - Abdool Karim, Salim S.

AU - Hanekom, Willem

AU - NGS-SA

AU - COMMIT-KZN Team

AU - Davies, Mary-Ann

AU - Hsiao, Marvin

AU - Martin, Darren

AU - Mlisana, Koleka

AU - Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt

AU - Williamson, Carolyn

AU - York, Denis

AU - Harrichandparsad, Rohen

AU - Herbst, Kobus

AU - Jeena, Prakash

AU - Khoza, Thandeka

AU - Kløverpris, Henrik

AU - Leslie, Alasdair

AU - Madansein, Rajhmun

AU - Magula, Nombulelo

AU - Manickchund, Nithendra

AU - Marakalala, Mohlopheni

AU - Mazibuko, Matilda

AU - Moshabela, Mosa

AU - Mthabela, Ntombifuthi

AU - Naidoo, Kogie

AU - Ndhlovu, Zaza

AU - Ndung’u, Thumbi

AU - Ngcobo, Nokuthula

AU - Nyamande, Kennedy

AU - Patel, Vinod

AU - Smit, Theresa

AU - Steyn, Adrie

AU - Wong, Emily

AU - von Gottberg, Anne

AU - Bhiman, Jinal N.

AU - Lessells, Richard J.

AU - Moosa, Mahomed Yunus S.

AU - Davenport, Miles P.

AU - de Oliveira, Tulio

AU - Moore, Penny L.

AU - Sigal, Alex

PY - 2022/2/24

Y1 - 2022/2/24

N2 - The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529), first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and lead to re-infections1. Here we investigated Omicron escape from neutralization by antibodies from South African individuals vaccinated with Pfizer BNT162b2. We used blood samples taken soon after vaccination from individuals who were vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated with no evidence of previous infection. We isolated and sequence-confirmed live Omicron virus from an infected person and observed that Omicron requires the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to infect cells. We compared plasma neutralization of Omicron relative to an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and found that neutralization of ancestral virus was much higher in infected and vaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated-only participants. However, both groups showed a 22-fold reduction in vaccine-elicited neutralization by the Omicron variant. Participants who were vaccinated and had previously been infected exhibited residual neutralization of Omicron similar to the level of neutralization of the ancestral virus observed in the vaccination-only group. These data support the notion that reasonable protection against Omicron may be maintained using vaccination approaches.

AB - The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529), first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and lead to re-infections1. Here we investigated Omicron escape from neutralization by antibodies from South African individuals vaccinated with Pfizer BNT162b2. We used blood samples taken soon after vaccination from individuals who were vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccinated with no evidence of previous infection. We isolated and sequence-confirmed live Omicron virus from an infected person and observed that Omicron requires the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to infect cells. We compared plasma neutralization of Omicron relative to an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and found that neutralization of ancestral virus was much higher in infected and vaccinated individuals compared with the vaccinated-only participants. However, both groups showed a 22-fold reduction in vaccine-elicited neutralization by the Omicron variant. Participants who were vaccinated and had previously been infected exhibited residual neutralization of Omicron similar to the level of neutralization of the ancestral virus observed in the vaccination-only group. These data support the notion that reasonable protection against Omicron may be maintained using vaccination approaches.

KW - COVID-19

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Omicron variant

KW - Vaccination

KW - Pfizer BNT162b2

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U2 - 10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1

DO - 10.1038/s41586-021-04387-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 35016196

AN - SCOPUS:85122689652

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 602

SP - 654-656, [1-11]

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 7898

ER -

Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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