Journal Article

The SARS-CoV-2 spike L452R-E484Q variant in the Indian B.1.617 strain showed significant reduction in the neutralization activity of immune sera

Wu, Yong, Li, Ning, Ming, Lam Wai, Baptista-Hon, Daniel T, Xiong, Xinxin, Liu, Zhihai, Wu, Shanyun, Song, Haifeng, Xiang, Andy P, Zhang, Kang, Dai, Qinjin, Zhou, Zhongcheng, Miao, Man, Zhang, Charlotte L, Huang, Hong, Guo, Chengbin, Du, Peng, Zhang, Edward D, Li, Gen, Zeng, Fanxin, Liu, Jianghai, Lau, Johnson Yiu-Nam, Yu, Meixing, Zhu, Jie

2021

Overview

To assess the impact of the key non-synonymous amino acid substitutions in the RBD of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.1 (dominant variant identified in the current India outbreak) on the infectivity and neutralization activities of the immune sera, L452R and E484Q (L452R-E484Q variant), pseudotyped virus was constructed (with the D614G background). The impact on binding with the neutralizing antibodies was also assessed with an ELISA assay. Pseudotyped virus carrying a L452R-E484Q variant showed a comparable infectivity compared with D614G. However, there was a significant reduction in the neutralization activity of the immune sera from non-human primates vaccinated with a recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) protein, convalescent patients, and healthy vaccinees vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine. In addition, there was a reduction in binding of L452R-E484Q-D614G protein to the antibodies of the immune sera from vaccinated non-human primates. These results highlight the interplay between infectivity and other biologic factors involved in the natural evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Reduced neutralization activities against the L452R-E484Q variant will have an impact on health authority planning and implications for the vaccination strategy/new vaccine development.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Proteins / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Vaccines