scholarly journals Increased lung cell entry of B.1.617.2 and evasion of antibodies induced by infection and BNT162b2 vaccination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prerna Arora ◽  
Nadine Krueger ◽  
Amy Kempf ◽  
Inga Nehlmeier ◽  
Anzhalika Sidarovich ◽  
...  

The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.617.2, emerged in India and has subsequently spread to over 80 countries. B.1.617.2 rapidly replaced B.1.1.7 as the dominant virus in the United Kingdom, resulting in a steep increase in new infections, and a similar development is expected for other countries. Effective countermeasures require information on susceptibility of B.1.617.2 to control by antibodies elicited by vaccines and used for COVID-19 therapy. We show, using pseudotyping, that B.1.617.2 evades control by antibodies induced upon infection and BNT162b2 vaccination, although with lower efficiency as compared to B.1.351. Further, we found that B.1.617.2 is resistant against Bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody with emergency use authorization for COVID-19 therapy. Finally, we show increased Calu-3 lung cell entry and enhanced cell-to-cell fusion of B.1.617.2, which may contribute to augmented transmissibility and pathogenicity of this variant. These results identify B.1.617.2 as an immune evasion variant with increased capacity to enter and fuse lung cells.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongchun Ni ◽  
Kelvin Lau ◽  
Priscilla Turelli ◽  
Charlene Raclot ◽  
Bertrand Beckert ◽  
...  

The Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-COV-2 was reported on November 24, 2021 and declared a variant of concern a couple of days later. With its constellation of mutations acquired by this variant on its Spike glycoprotein and the speed at which this new variant has replaced the previously dominant variant Delta in South Africa and the United Kingdom, it is crucial to have atomic structural insights to reveal the mechanism of its rapid proliferation. Here we present a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the Spike protein of the Omicron variant.


2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lani Inverarity

The increasing role of "special advocates" in common law jurisdictions raises fundamental questions about the development of the law in response to new challenges and the extent to which individual rights can be abrogated in the name of national security. Special advocates are employed to examine and challenge classified evidence, withheld from affected persons and their legal advisors, in closed proceedings. They are, notionally, representing the affected person, but face an almost complete restriction on communication once exposed to the classified evidence. This is strikingly at odds with long-established norms of advocacy and a fair hearing, leading the United Kingdom Joint Committee on Human Rights to describe the system as "Kafkaesque".  The special advocate function, widely utilised in the United Kingdom, will be statutorily introduced into New Zealand with the passing of the Immigration Bill 2007, mirroring a similar development in Canada. The Bill extends the use of classified information in immigration decision-making and allows for special advocates to examine and challenge classified evidence in review, appeal or detention proceedings. That Bill is the subject of this article.


Author(s):  
Pei-Yong Shi ◽  
Xuping Xie ◽  
Jing Zou ◽  
Camila Fontes-Garfias ◽  
Hongjie Xia ◽  
...  

Abstract Rapidly spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have arisen in the United Kingdom and South Africa share the spike N501Y substitution, which is of particular concern because it is located in the viral receptor binding site for cell entry and increases binding to the receptor. We generated isogenic N501 and Y501 SARS-CoV-2. Twenty human sera from the mRNA-based vaccine BNT162b2 trial exhibited equivalent neutralizing titers to the N501 and Y501 viruses.


2006 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. GODDARD ◽  
M. C. COOKE ◽  
R. K. GUPTA ◽  
J. S. NGUYEN-VAN-TAM

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection produces more severe disease and increased hospitalization rates in high-risk babies. The monoclonal antibody palivizumab offers protection against complications, and the first of five monthly doses should be administered before the onset of community RSV activity. However, the required real-time prediction of this onset is problematic. We attempted to identify seasonal RSV patterns by retrospectively examining 10 years of laboratory reports for RSV and clinical episode reports for certain respiratory presentations in both primary and secondary care. Analysis of hospital laboratory reports, incidence of acute bronchitis in primary care, and hospital admissions for acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis in young children revealed a consistent increase in RSV activity during week 43 each year. Promptly commencing prophylaxis during the second week of each October (week 42) would precede the onset of the RSV season in the United Kingdom, and provide coverage until its decline in mid-March.


2016 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasjot Singh ◽  
Emilie Luquet ◽  
David P.T. Smith ◽  
Herman J. Potgieter ◽  
Patricia Ragazzon

There are over 2.6 million users of e-cigarettes in the United Kingdom alone as they have been promoted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. The addition of flavours and aromas has also proven to be popular with younger generations. In this review, we survey the range of studies in the short timeframe since e-cigarettes reached the market to draw attention to the health associated risks and benefits of their introduction. We complement this review with a case study reporting on the composition of selected e-cigarette refills with particular emphasis on the toxicological activity of its components on lung cells.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuping Xie ◽  
Jing Zou ◽  
Camila R. Fontes-Garfias ◽  
Hongjie Xia ◽  
Kena A. Swanson ◽  
...  

Rapidly spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have arisen in the United Kingdom and South Africa share the spike N501Y substitution, which is of particular concern because it is located in the viral receptor binding site for cell entry and increases binding to the receptor (angiotensin converting enzyme 2). We generated isogenic N501 and Y501 SARS-CoV-2. Sera of 20 participants in a previously reported trial of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 had equivalent neutralizing titers to the N501 and Y501 viruses.


2009 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishan Fernando ◽  
Gordon Prescott ◽  
Jennifer Cleland ◽  
Kathryn Greaves ◽  
Hamish McKenzie

1990 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 800-801
Author(s):  
Michael F. Pogue-Geile

1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1076-1077
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Gutek

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