Nature Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
9(2), P. 451 - 463
Published: Jan. 16, 2024
Abstract
Severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
human
adaptation
resulted
in
distinct
lineages
with
enhanced
transmissibility
called
variants
of
concern
(VOCs).
Omicron
is
the
first
VOC
to
evolve
globally
dominant
subvariants.
Here
we
compared
their
replication
cell
lines
and
primary
airway
cultures
measured
host
responses
infection.
We
discovered
that
subvariants
BA.4
BA.5
have
improved
suppression
innate
immunity
when
earlier
BA.1
BA.2.
Similarly,
more
recent
(BA.2.75
XBB
lineages)
also
triggered
reduced
immune
activation.
This
correlated
increased
expression
viral
antagonists
Orf6
nucleocapsid,
reminiscent
VOCs
Alpha
Delta.
Increased
levels
suppressed
infection
by
decreasing
IRF3
STAT1
signalling
transcription
factor
phosphorylation
nuclear
translocation.
Our
data
suggest
convergent
evolution
antagonist
a
common
pathway
link
subvariant
dominance
evasion.
Nature Reviews Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 18, 2023
In
late
2020,
after
circulating
for
almost
a
year
in
the
human
population,
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
exhibited
major
step
change
its
adaptation
to
humans.
These
highly
mutated
forms
of
SARS-CoV-2
had
enhanced
rates
transmission
relative
previous
variants
and
were
termed
'variants
concern'
(VOCs).
Designated
Alpha,
Beta,
Gamma,
Delta
Omicron,
VOCs
emerged
independently
from
one
another,
turn
each
rapidly
became
dominant,
regionally
or
globally,
outcompeting
variants.
The
success
VOC
previously
dominant
variant
was
enabled
by
altered
intrinsic
functional
properties
virus
and,
various
degrees,
changes
antigenicity
conferring
ability
evade
primed
immune
response.
increased
fitness
associated
with
is
result
complex
interplay
biology
context
changing
immunity
due
both
vaccination
prior
infection.
this
Review,
we
summarize
literature
on
transmissibility
variants,
role
mutations
at
furin
spike
cleavage
site
non-spike
proteins,
potential
importance
recombination
success,
evolution
T
cells,
innate
population
immunity.
shows
complicated
relationship
among
antigenicity,
virulence,
which
has
unpredictable
implications
future
trajectory
disease
burden
COVID-19.
Nature Microbiology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
7(8), P. 1161 - 1179
Published: July 7, 2022
Vaccines
based
on
the
spike
protein
of
SARS-CoV-2
are
a
cornerstone
public
health
response
to
COVID-19.
The
emergence
hypermutated,
increasingly
transmissible
variants
concern
(VOCs)
threaten
this
strategy.
Omicron
(B.1.1.529),
fifth
VOC
be
described,
harbours
multiple
amino
acid
mutations
in
spike,
half
which
lie
within
receptor-binding
domain.
Here
we
demonstrate
substantial
evasion
neutralization
by
BA.1
and
BA.2
vitro
using
sera
from
individuals
vaccinated
with
ChAdOx1,
BNT162b2
mRNA-1273.
These
data
were
mirrored
reduction
real-world
vaccine
effectiveness
that
was
partially
restored
booster
vaccination.
did
not
induce
cell
syncytia
favoured
TMPRSS2-independent
endosomal
entry
pathway,
these
phenotypes
mapping
distinct
regions
protein.
Impaired
fusion
determined
domain,
while
mapped
S2
Such
marked
changes
antigenicity
replicative
biology
may
underlie
rapid
global
spread
altered
pathogenicity
variant.
Science Immunology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
7(76)
Published: July 19, 2022
SARS-CoV-2
mRNA
vaccination
induces
robust
humoral
and
cellular
immunity
in
the
circulation;
however,
it
is
currently
unknown
whether
elicits
effective
immune
responses
respiratory
tract,
particularly
against
variants
of
concern
(VOCs),
including
Omicron.
We
compared
S-specific
total
neutralizing
antibody
responses,
B
T
cell
immunity,
bronchoalveolar
lavage
fluid
(BAL)
blood
COVID-19-vaccinated
individuals
hospitalized
patients.
Vaccinated
had
significantly
lower
levels
D614G,
Delta
(B.1.617.2),
Omicron
BA.1.1
BAL
with
COVID-19
convalescents
despite
blood.
Furthermore,
induced
circulating
but
contrast
to
convalescents,
these
were
absent
vaccinated
individuals.
Using
a
mouse
immunization
model,
we
demonstrated
that
systemic
alone
weak
mucosal
especially
mice;
combination
plus
adenovirus-S
strong
not
only
ancestral
virus
also
variant.
Together,
our
study
supports
contention
current
vaccines
are
highly
severe
disease
development,
likely
through
recruiting
during
reinfection,
offer
limited
protection
breakthrough
infection,
by
sublineage.
Hence,
booster
needed
establish
sterilizing
tract
SARS-CoV-2,
infection
sublineage
future
VOCs.
The
emergence
of
several
new
variants
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
in
recent
months
has
raised
concerns
around
the
potential
impact
on
ongoing
vaccination
programs.
Data
from
clinical
trials
and
real-world
evidence
suggest
that
current
vaccines
remain
highly
effective
against
alpha
variant
(B.1.1.7),
while
some
have
reduced
efficacy
effectiveness
symptomatic
disease
caused
by
beta
(B.1.351)
delta
(B.1.617.2);
however,
hospitalization
remains
high.
Although
data
primary
regimen
omicron
(B.1.1.529)
are
limited,
booster
programs
using
mRNA
been
shown
to
restore
protection
infection
(regardless
vaccine
used
for
regimen)
maintain
high
hospitalization.
However,
wanes
with
time
after
dose.
Studies
demonstrated
reductions
varying
magnitude
neutralizing
activity
vaccine-elicited
antibodies
a
range
SARS-CoV-2
variants,
particular
exhibiting
partial
immune
escape.
suggests
T-cell
responses
preserved
across
platforms,
regardless
concern.
Nevertheless,
various
mitigation
strategies
under
investigation
address
or
future
including
modification
certain
(including
omicron),
multivalent
formulations,
different
delivery
mechanisms.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
12(5), P. a041390 - a041390
Published: April 20, 2022
Our
understanding
of
the
still
unfolding
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
pandemic
would
have
been
extremely
limited
without
study
genetics
and
evolution
this
new
human
coronavirus.
Large-scale
genome-sequencing
efforts
provided
close
to
real-time
tracking
global
spread
diversification
SARS-CoV-2
since
its
entry
into
population
in
late
2019.
These
data
underpinned
analysis
origins,
epidemiology,
adaptations
population:
principally
immune
evasion
increasing
transmissibility.
SARS-CoV-2,
despite
being
a
pathogen,
was
highly
capable
human-to-human
transmission.
During
rapid
humans,
has
evolved
independent
forms,
so-called
"variants
concern,"
that
are
better
optimized
for
The
most
important
adaptation
bat
progenitor
both
SARS-CoV-1
infection
(and
other
mammals)
is
use
angiotensin-converting
enzyme
(ACE2)
receptor.
Relaxed
structural
constraints
provide
plasticity
SARS-related
spike
protein
permitting
it
accommodate
significant
amino
acid
replacements
antigenic
consequence
compromising
ability
bind
ACE2.
Although
bulk
research
justifiably
concentrated
on
viral
as
main
determinant
changes
transmissibility,
there
accumulating
evidence
contribution
regions
proteome
virus-host
interaction.
Whereas
levels
community
transmission
recombinants
genetically
distinct
variants
at
present
low,
when
divergent
cocirculate,
recombination
between
clades
detected,
risk
viruses
with
properties
emerge.
Applying
computational
machine
learning
methods
genome
sequence
sets
generate
experimentally
verifiable
predictions
will
serve
an
early
warning
system
novel
variant
surveillance
be
future
vaccine
planning.
Omicron,
latest
concern,
focused
attention
step
change
events,
"shift,"
opposed
incremental
"drift"
antigenicity.
Both
increase
transmissibility
shift
Omicron
led
readily
causing
infections
fully
vaccinated
and/or
previously
infected.
Omicron's
virulence,
while
reduced
relative
concern
replaced,
Delta,
very
much
premised
past
exposure
individuals
clear
signal
boosted
vaccination
protects
from
disease.
Currently,
proven
itself
dangerous
pathogen
unpredictable
evolutionary
capacity,
leading
too
great
not
ensure
all
world
screened
by
sequencing,
protected
through
available
affordable
vaccines,
non-punitive
strategies
place
detecting
responding
concern.
EBioMedicine,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
84, P. 104270 - 104270
Published: Sept. 18, 2022
BackgroundGenetically
distinct
viral
variants
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
have
been
recorded
since
January
2020.
The
introduction
global
vaccine
programs
has
contributed
to
lower
COVID-19
hospitalisation
and
mortality
rates,
particularly
in
developed
countries.
In
late
2021,
Omicron
BA.1
emerged,
with
substantially
altered
genetic
differences
clinical
effects
from
other
concern.
Shortly
after
dominating
spread
early
2022,
was
supplanted
by
the
genetically
lineage
BA.2.
A
sub-lineage
BA.2,
designated
BA.5,
presently
an
outgrowth
advantage
over
BA.2
sub-lineages.
Here
we
study
neutralisation
BA.1,
BA.5
pre-Omicron
using
a
range
convalescent
sera
therapeutic
monoclonal
antibodies
live
virus
assay.
Using
primary
nasopharyngeal
swabs,
also
tested
relative
fitness
compared
lineages
their
ability
use
ACE2-TMPRSS2
pathway.MethodsUsing
low
passage
isolates
Clade
A.2.2,
Beta,
Delta,
determined
humoral
vitro
vaccinated
cohorts,
concentrated
human
IgG
pooled
thousands
plasma
donors,
licensed
antibody
therapies.
We
then
infectivity
particle
ratios
samples
expanded
engineered
ACE2/TMPRSS2
cell
line
presence
absence
TMPRSS2
inhibitor
Nafamostat.FindingsPeak
responses
3
doses
BNT162b2
were
associated
9-fold
reduction
for
BA.5.
Concentrated
donors
vaccination
breakthrough
infections
greater
breadth
neutralisation,
although
potency
still
reduced
7-fold
across
all
lineages.
Testing
grade
revealed
14.3-fold
Evusheld
16.8-fold
Sotrovimab
Whilst
attenuated
entry,
observed
be
equivalent
that
2020
circulating
clade
had
sensitivity
Nafamostat.InterpretationObservations
support
significantly
escape
neutralising
and/or
responses.
Potency
is
differs
key
difference
sub-variants
reversion
tropism
back
well-known
pathway,
utilised
efficiently
Monitoring
if
these
changes
influence
transmission
disease
severity
will
ongoing
tracking
management
waves
globally.FundingThis
work
primarily
supported
Australian
Medical
Foundation
research
grants
MRF2005760
(ST,
GM
&
WDR),
MRF2001684
(ADK
ST)
Research
Future
Fund
Antiviral
Development
Call
grant
(WDR),
(MRFF2001684,
ADK
SGT)
New
South
Wales
Health
Grants
Round
(SGT).