Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7, but not B.1.351, in animal models

Ulrich, Lisa K.; Halwe, Nico Joel; Taddeo, Adriano; Ebert, Nadine; Schön, Jacob; Devisme, Christelle; Trüeb, Bettina Salome; Hoffmann, Bernd; Wider, Manon; Bekliz, Meriem; Essaidi-Laziosi, Manel; Schmidt, Marie Luisa; Niemeyer, Daniela; Corman, Victor M.; Kraft, Anna; Godel, Aurélie; Laloli, Laura; Kelly, Jenna N.; Breithaupt, Angele; Wylezich, Claudia; Veiga, Inês Berenguer; Gultom, Mitra; Adea, Kenneth; Meyer, Benjamin; Eberhardt, Christiane; Thomann, Andreas; Gsell-Albert, Monika; Labroussaa, Fabien; Jores, Joerg; Summerfield, Artur; Drosten, Christian; Eckerle, Isabella; Dijkman, Ronald; Hoffmann, Donata; Thiel, Volker; Beer, Martin; Benarafa, Charaf

doi:10.1101/2021.06.28.450190

Cited by 12 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Previous reports of differences in Ct values or duration of shedding were based on either small sample sizes (36) or cross-sectional analyses of individuals who sought testing and were thus likely symptomatic at the time of sampling (21). Our results are consistent with studies demonstrating the absence of a growth advantage for B.1.1.7 in primary human respiratory epithelial cells (50,51). If the timing of symptom onset differs between B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 infections, it could potentially explain why cross-sectional analyses of viral loads might register lower Ct values for B.1.1.7 samples.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness

Martinez

Smith

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding in humans remain poorly understood. We captured the dynamics of infectious virus and viral RNA shedding during acute infection through daily longitudinal sampling of 60 individuals for up to 14 days. By fitting mechanistic models, we directly estimate viral reproduction and clearance rates, and overall infectiousness for each individual. Significant person-to-person variation in infectious virus shedding suggests that individual-level heterogeneity in viral dynamics contributes to superspreading. Viral genome load often peaked days earlier in saliva than in nasal swabs, indicating strong compartmentalization and suggesting that saliva may serve as a superior sampling site for early detection of infection. Viral loads and clearance kinetics of B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 viruses in nasal swabs were indistinguishable, however B.1.1.7 exhibited a significantly slower pre-peak growth rate in saliva. These results provide a high-resolution portrait of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics and implicate individual-level heterogeneity in infectiousness in superspreading.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness

Martinez

Smith

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…The assays were performed as previously described [ 20 ]. In brief, 20000 Vero E6 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate format.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multidimensional Cross-Sectional Analysis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Seroprevalence Among a Police Officer Cohort: The PoliCOV-19 Study

Sendi

Baldan

Thierstein

et al. 2021

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

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Background Protests and police fieldwork provides a high exposure environment for SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this cross-sectional analysis, we investigated the seroprevalence among a police cohort, and sociodemographic, work and health-related factors associated with seropositivity. Methods Study participants were invited for serological testing of SARS-CoV-2 and to complete online questionnaires. Serum neutralization titres towards the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (expressing D614G) and the alpha and beta variants were measured in seropositive study participants. Results 978 police personnel representing 35% of the entire staff participated from February to March 2021. The seroprevalence was 12.9%. It varied by geographic region within the canton; ranged from 9% to 13.5% in three regions, including the city; and was 22% in Bernese Seeland/Jura with higher odds for seropositivity (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.28–4.44, P=0.006). Job roles with mainly office activity were associated with a lower risk of seropositivity (0.33, 0.14–0.77, P=0.010). Most seropositive employees (67.5%) reported having had COVID-19 three months or longer prior to serological testing. Selfreported compliance with mask wearing during working hours was 100%; 45% of all seropositive versus 5% of all seronegative participants (P<0.001) reported having had contact with a proven COVID-19 case living in the same household prior to serological testing. The level of serum antibody titres correlated with neutralization capacity. Antibodies derived from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection effectively neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, but were less effective against the alpha and beta variants. Conclusions The seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of police officers was comparable to that reported in the general population, suggesting that the personal protective equipment of the police is effective, and that household contacts are the leading transmission venues. The level of serum antibody titres, in particular that of anti-spike antibodies, correlated well with neutralization capacity. Low antibody titres acquired from natural infection were not effective against variants.

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“…However, B.1.1.7 displayed an increased airborne transmission competitiveness over lineage A in a dual infection experiment. This has also previously been shown for D614G over the lineage A variant 36,37 and for B.1.1.7 over D614G 38 , however, these studies did not look at airborne transmission. Previously, the D614G competition and transmission experiments in hamsters and ferrets suggested that the D614G mutation increased transmissability 39,40 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Increased aerosol transmission for B.1.1.7 (alpha variant) over lineage A variant of SARS-CoV-2

Port

Yinda

Avanzato

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Airborne transmission, a term combining both large droplet and aerosol transmission, is thought to be the main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2. Here we investigated the relative efficiency of aerosol transmission of two variants of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7 (alpha) and lineage A, in the Syrian hamster. A novel transmission caging setup was designed and validated, which allowed the assessment of transmission efficiency at various distances. At 2 meters distance, only particles <5 micrometer traversed between cages. In this setup, aerosol transmission was confirmed in 8 out of 8 (N = 4 for each variant) sentinels after 24 hours of exposure as demonstrated by respiratory shedding and seroconversion. Successful transmission occurred even when exposure time was limited to one hour, highlighting the efficiency of this transmission route. Interestingly, the B.1.1.7 variant outcompeted the lineage A variant in an airborne transmission chain after mixed infection of donors. Combined, this data indicates that the infectious dose of B.1.1.7 required for successful transmission may be lower than that of lineage A virus. The experimental proof for true aerosol transmission and the increase in the aerosol transmission potential of B.1.1.7 underscore the continuous need for assessment of novel variants and the development or preemptive transmission mitigation strategies.

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Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7, but not B.1.351, in animal models

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness

Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness

A Multidimensional Cross-Sectional Analysis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Seroprevalence Among a Police Officer Cohort: The PoliCOV-19 Study

Increased aerosol transmission for B.1.1.7 (alpha variant) over lineage A variant of SARS-CoV-2

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