Vaccine booster efficiently inhibits entry of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant

Zhang, Wei; Huang, Linfen; Ye, Gang; Geng, Qibin; Ikeogu, Nwando; Harris, Morgan; Dileepan, Gayathri; Burrack, Kristina S.; Du, Lanying; Frosch, Anne E.; Li, Fang

doi:10.1038/s41423-022-00837-6

Cited by 21 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“… 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 Previous studies reported that a third vaccine dose showed a satisfactory safety profile and induced a stronger immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 and variants of concern. 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 Our study provides further evidence that after two doses of an inactivated vaccine, a third booster vaccination substantially enhanced T‐cell responses to the spike proteins of both the ancestral strain and the Omicron variant, although the enhancement was slightly weakened by Omicron mutations, especially G339D and N440K.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

T‐cell responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron spike epitopes with mutations after the third booster dose of an inactivated vaccine

Wang

Jin

et al. 2022

Journal of Medical Virology

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The rapidly spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Omicron variant contains more than 30 mutations that mediate escape from antibody responses elicited by prior infection or current vaccines. Fortunately, T‐cell responses are highly conserved in most individuals, but the impacts of mutations are not clear. Here, we showed that the T‐cell responses of individuals who underwent booster vaccination with CoronaVac were largely protective against the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron spike protein. To specifically estimate the impact of Omicron mutations on vaccinated participants, 16 peptides derived from the spike protein of the ancestral virus or Omicron strain with mutations were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the volunteers. Compared with the administration of two doses of vaccine, booster vaccination substantially enhanced T‐cell activation in response to both the ancestral and Omicron epitopes, although the enhancement was slightly weakened by the Omicron mutations. Then, the peptides derived from these spike proteins were used separately to stimulate PBMCs. Interestingly, compared with the ancestral peptides, only the peptides with the G339D or N440K mutation were detected to significantly destabilize the T‐cell response. Although more participants need to be evaluated to confirm this conclusion, our study nonetheless estimates the impacts of mutations on T‐cell responses to the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

T‐cell responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron spike epitopes with mutations after the third booster dose of an inactivated vaccine

Wang

Jin

et al. 2022

Journal of Medical Virology

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“…This is translated to a higher vaccine efficacy. In addition, according to the pseudovirus assay, the three‐dose vaccine was 10 times more effective in inhibiting virus viability than that of the two‐shot vaccine 129 . In a study involving 16,087 Omicron‐positive cases, a booster dose of mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines had an efficacy against symptomatic disease of 61% (vs. 36% without the booster dose) 130 .…”

Section: Strategies Against the Omicron Variantmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, according to the pseudovirus assay, the three‐dose vaccine was 10 times more effective in inhibiting virus viability than that of the two‐shot vaccine. 129 In a study involving 16,087 Omicron‐positive cases, a booster dose of mRNA COVID‐19 vaccines had an efficacy against symptomatic disease of 61% (vs. 36% without the booster dose). 130 While this is still very far from the original vaccine efficacy reported (over 90%), the above results nevertheless highlighted the importance of getting booster doses of the COVID‐19 vaccine.…”

Section: Strategies Against the Omicron Variantmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant: Immune escape and vaccine development

Lan

et al. 2022

MedComm

109

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New genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) constantly emerge through unmitigated spread of the virus in the ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Omicron (B.1.1.529), the latest variant of concern (VOC), has so far shown exceptional spread and infectivity and has established itself as the dominant variant in recent months. The SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein is a key component for the recognition and binding to host cell angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 receptors. The Omicron variant harbors a cluster of substitutions/deletions/insertions, and more than 30 mutations are located in spike. Some noticeable mutations, including K417N, T478K, N501Y, and P681H, are shared with the previous VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma, or Delta variants and have been proven to be associated with higher transmissibility, viral infectivity, and immune evasion potential. Studies have revealed that the Omicron variant is partially resistant to the neutralizing activity of therapeutic antibodies and convalescent sera, which poses significant challenges for the clinical effectiveness of the current vaccines and therapeutic antibodies. We provide a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant. This review, therefore, aims to provide information for further research efforts to prevent and contain the impact of new VOCs during the ongoing pandemic.

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“…In particular, vaccines with strong efficiency against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants which present high transmissibility and/or infectivity would be a high priority for development. While a 3 rd dose of prototypic BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccine may induce moderate neutralizing antibodies against Omicron variant, 51 , 52 , 53 other strategies, such as T-cell-inducing vaccines based on the conserved viral sequences, will have potential to enhance the potency against not only the prototypic strain but also Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%