Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, a diversity of viral genomic variants has emerged and spread globally due to increased transmissibility, pathogenicity, and immune evasion. By the first trimester of 2023 in Chile, as in most countries, BQ and XBB were the predominant circulating sub-lineages of Omicron. The molecular and antigenic characteristics of these variants have been mainly determined using non-authentic spike pseudoviruses, which is often described as a limitation. Additionally, few comparative studies using isolates from recent Omicron sub-lineages have been conducted. In this study, we isolated SARS-CoV-2 variants from clinical samples, including the ancestral B.1.1, Delta, Omicron BA.1, and sub-lineages of BA.2 and BA.5. We assessed their infectivity through cell culture infections and their antibody evasion using neutralization assays. We observed variations in viral plaque size, cell morphology, and cytotoxicity upon infection in Vero E6-TMPRSS2 cells for each variant compared to the ancestral B.1.1 virus. BA.2-derived sub-variants, such as XBB.1.5, showed attenuated viral replication, while BA.5-derived variants, such as BQ.1.1, exhibited replication rates similar to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus. Similar trends were observed in intestinal Caco-2 cells, except for Delta. Antibody neutralization experiments using sera from individuals infected during the first COVID-19 wave (FWI) showed a consistent but moderate reduction in neutralization against Omicron sub-lineages. Interestingly, despite being less prevalent, BQ.1.1 showed a 6.1-fold greater escape from neutralization than XBB.1.5. Neutralization patterns were similar when tested against sera from individuals vaccinated with 3xBNT162b2 (PPP) or Coronavac-Coronavac-BNT162b2 (CCP) schedules. However, CCP sera showed 2.3-fold higher neutralization against XBB.1.5 than FWI and PPP sera. This study provides new insights into the differences between BA.2 and BA.5-derived variants, leading to their eventual outcompetition. Our analysis offers important evidence regarding the balance between infectivity and antigenic escape that drives the evolution of second-generation SARS-CoV-2 variants in the population.
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,295
Awards: G103575219, EPITHELIAL HOST FACTORS MODULATING VIRAL INTERFERENCE DURING AN INFLUENZA - SARS-COV-2 COINFECTION, FACTORES VIRALES Y CELULARES RELACIONADOS CON LA CAPACIDAD DE ADAPTACION DEL VIRUS INFLUENZA A A DIVERSOS HOSPEDEROS., GENOMIC EPIDEMIOLOGY IN EMERGENT DISEASES (GENE2DIS), NEW PREDICTORS OF ANDV PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION WHEN A HOUSEHOLD CONTACT BECOMES AN INDEX CASE, EVALUACION DE LA MEMORIA INMUNOLOGICA ESPECIFICA PARA COVID-19 EN DONANTES Y RECEPTORES DE PLASMA CONVALECIENTE, G5514976981, ELUCIDATING THE FUNCTION OF KEY GENES INVOLVED IN CLINICAL COURSE OF HANTAVIRUS CARDIOPULMONARY SYNDROME, ROLE OF SPIKE MUTATIONS IN THE INFECTIVITY AND IMMUNE ESCAPE OF SARS-COV-2 VARIANTS CIRCULATING IN CHILE, G7059131728, ELUCIDATING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF ANDES ORTHOHANTAVIRUS IMPACT OF NONSYNONYMOUS SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE VARIATIONS ON VIRAL ENTRY GENE EXPRESSION AND INNATE IMMUNE EVASION.
OpenAlex ID: W4402015852