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. 2021 Oct;83(4):467-472.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.07.019. Epub 2021 Jul 25.

Cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and P.1 variants in vaccinated, convalescent and P.1 infected

Anna Gidari  1 , Samuele Sabbatini  2 , Sabrina Bastianelli  3 , Sara Pierucci  3 , Chiara Busti  3 , Claudia Monari  2 , Barbara Luciani Pasqua  4 , Filippo Dragoni  5 , Elisabetta Schiaroli  3 , Maurizio Zazzi  5 , Daniela Francisci  3
Affiliations

Cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and P.1 variants in vaccinated, convalescent and P.1 infected

Anna Gidari et al. J Infect. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: The emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) around the world significantly complicated the exit from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum neutralizing activity of three cohorts.

Methods: BNT162b2-elicited serum (N = 103), candidates as hyper-immune plasma donors (N = 90) and patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 P1 variant (N = 22) were enrolled. Three strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been tested: 20A.EU1, B.1.1.7 (alpha) and P.1 (gamma). Neutralizing antibodies (NT-Abs) titers against SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated.

Results: B.1.1.7 and P.1 are less efficiently neutralized by convalescent wild-type infected serums if compared to 20A.EU1 strain (mean titer 1.6 and 6.7-fold lower respectively). BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited human sera show an equivalent neutralization potency on the B.1.1.7 but it is significantly lower for the P.1 variant (mean titer 3.3-fold lower). Convalescent P.1 patients are less protected from other SARS-CoV-2 strains with an important reduction of neutralizing antibodies against 20A.EU1 and B.1.1.7, about 12.2 and 10.9-fold, respectively.

Conclusions: BNT162b2 vaccine confers immunity against all the tested VOCs, while previous SARS-CoV-2 infection may be less protective.

Keywords: Antibodies; COVID-19; Neutralizing; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccine; Variant.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patients selection flowchart. Coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2; Neutralizing antibodies, NT-Abs.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of neutralizing antibodies (NT-Abs) titers of BNT162b2-vaccinated healthcare workers (N = 90) (A, E), convalescent candidates as plasma donors (N = 90) (B, F), high titers plasma donors (N = 64) (C, G) and SARS-CoV-2 P1 infected patients (N = 25) (D, H). NT-Abs titers against SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using flat-bottom tissue culture 96-well microtiter plate serum dilution assay. Serums have been tested against 20A.EU1, B.1.1.7 and P.1 strains isolated from symptomatic patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Panels A, B, C and D show NT-Abs titers distribution for the three strains. Panels E, F, G and H show how NT-Abs serum titers of each patient change for the three variants. Data were presented as median with interquartile range (IQR). The Friedman test and Dunn's multiple comparison test were performed. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. *Significant if compared to 20A.EU1 strain. #Significant if compared to P.1 strain.
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