Work

Limited Cross-Variant Immune Response From SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 in Naïve But Not Previously Infected Outpatients

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Omicron is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant and several sublineages have emerged. Questions remain about the impact of previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure on cross-variant immune responses elicited by BA.2 infection compared to BA.1. Here we show that without previous history of COVID-19, BA.2 infection induces a reduced immune response against all variants of concern (VOC) compared to BA.1 infection. The absence of ACE2 binding in sera of previously naïve BA.1 and BA.2 patients indicates a lack of meaningful neutralization. In contrast, anti-spike antibody levels and neutralizing activity greatly increased in the BA.1 and BA.2 patients with a previous history of COVID-19. Transcriptome analyses of peripheral immune cells showed significant differences in immune response and specific antibody generation between BA.1 and BA.2 patients as well as significant differences in expression of specific immune genes. In summary, prior infection status significantly impacts the innate and adaptive immune response against VOC following BA.2 infection.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105369

Authors: Hye Kyung Lee, Ludwig Knabl, Mary Walter, Priscilla A. Furth, Lothar Hennighausen

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Georgetown University

Language: English

Topic: SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,000