A Detailed Overview of Immune Escape, Antibody Escape, Partial Vaccine Escape of SARS-CoV-2 and Their Emerging Variants With Escape Mutations

Abstract

The infective SARS-CoV-2 is more prone to immune escape. Presently, the significant variants of SARS-CoV-2 are emerging in due course of time with substantial mutations, having the immune escape property. Simultaneously, the vaccination drive against this virus is in progress worldwide. However, vaccine evasion has been noted by some of the newly emerging variants. Our review provides an overview of the emerging variants' immune escape and vaccine escape ability. We have illustrated a broad view related to viral evolution, variants, and immune escape ability. Subsequently, different immune escape approaches of SARS-CoV-2 have been discussed. Different innate immune escape strategies adopted by the SARS-CoV-2 has been discussed like, IFN-I production dysregulation, cytokines related immune escape, immune escape associated with dendritic cell function and macrophages, natural killer cells and neutrophils related immune escape, PRRs associated immune evasion, and NLRP3 inflammasome associated immune evasion. Simultaneously we have discussed the significant mutations related to emerging variants and immune escape, such as mutations in the RBD region (N439K, L452R, E484K, N501Y, K444R) and other parts (D614G, P681R) of the S-glycoprotein. Mutations in other locations such as NSP1, NSP3, NSP6, ORF3, and ORF8 have also been discussed. Finally, we have illustrated the emerging variants' partial vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA/Oxford-AstraZeneca/BBIBP-CorV/ZF2001/Moderna mRNA/Johnson & Johnson vaccine) escape ability. This review will help gain in-depth knowledge related to immune escape, antibody escape, and partial vaccine escape ability of the virus and assist in controlling the current pandemic and prepare for the next.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; escape mutation; immune escape; vaccine escape; variants.

Figure 1

The figure shows the SARS-CoV-2 that adopts different innate immunity evasion strategies for immunity evasion.

Figure 2

SARS-CoV-2 innate immune evasion by interfering with the IFN signaling pathway.

Figure 3

SARS-CoV-2 innate immune evasions through modulation of the dendritic cell (DC) function.

Figure 4

The schematic diagram illustrates the significant mutations in the S-glycoprotein as noted in the VOCs and VOIs. (A) Reported essential mutations in the S-glycoprotein of VOCs. (B) Reported critical mutations in the S-glycoprotein of VOIs.

Figure 5

3D model of S-glycoprotein illustrating the location of significant mutations in the variants, associated with immunity evasion.

Figure 6

The schematic diagram illustrates the significant mutations in the other region, excluding the S-glycoprotein mutations.

Figure 7

3D model of S-glycoprotein illustrating the location of significant mutations in the SARS-CoV-2, important variants related to antibody escape and model for antibody interaction. (A) 3D structure model shows the significant mutations for antibody escape. (B) A model for SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein and antibody (5-7) interaction. The figure was generated using PDB id: 7RW2. (C) Interaction residues interface of antibody and S-glycoprotein.

Figure 8

The schematic diagram illustrates the vaccine escape and indicates the vaccine escape mutations.

Figure 9

The diagram shows the impact of different vaccines effectiveness by B.1.1.7 variants and B.1.351 variant, indicating the reduction in the vaccine effectiveness. (A) Impact of different vaccines effectiveness by B.1.1.7 variants. (B) Impact of different vaccines effectiveness by B.1.351 variant.