Cell Reports
Volume 38, Issue 9, 1 March 2022, 110429
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SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Spike recognition by plasma from individuals receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination with a 16-week interval between doses

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110429Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • A long interval between vaccine doses leads to good recognition of the Omicron Spike

  • It also leads to detectable neutralization of the Omicron Spike

  • These responses are stronger than in naive donors vaccinated with a short interval

  • Vaccine-elicited responses in convalescent donors are superior than in naive donors

Summary

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

Keywords

Coronavirus
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
spike glycoproteins
delayed mRNA vaccine regimen
variants of concern
humoral responses
neutralization
Omicron

Data and code availability

  • All data reported in this paper will be shared by the lead contact ([email protected]) upon request.

  • This paper does not report original code.

  • Any additional information required to reanalyze the data reported in this paper is available from the lead contact ([email protected]) upon request.

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