scholarly journals Crucial Mutations of Spike Protein on SARS-CoV-2 Evolved to Variant Strains Escaping Neutralization of Convalescent Plasmas and RBD-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengchao Ding ◽  
Jun He ◽  
Xiangyu Zhang ◽  
Chengcheng Jiang ◽  
Yong Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Cross Neutralization ◽  
Altered Sensitivity ◽  
Single Amino Acid Mutation

Small number of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic lineages did not efficiently exhibit a neutralization profile, while single amino acid mutation in the spike protein has not been confirmed in altering viral antigenicity resulting in immune escape. To identify crucial mutations in spike protein that escape humoral immune response, we evaluated the cross-neutralization of convalescent plasmas and RBD-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against various spike protein-based pseudoviruses. Three of 24 SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses containing different mutations in spike protein, including D614G, A475V, and E484Q, consistently showed an altered sensitivity to neutralization by convalescent plasmas. A475V and E484Q mutants are highly resistant to neutralization by mAb B38 and 2-4, suggesting that some crucial mutations in spike protein might evolve SARS-CoV-2 variants capable of escaping humoral immune response.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies in tear fluid

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000733
Author(s):  
Astrid Muyldermans ◽  
Maria Bjerke ◽  
Thomas Demuyser ◽  
Deborah De Geyter ◽  
Ingrid Wybo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Tear Fluid ◽  
Local Response ◽  
Schirmer Test ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Ocular Symptoms

Background/aimsSARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious. More evidence concerning extrapulmonary transmission routes such as the eyes is urgently needed. Although the humoral immune response is important in the viral containment, the local response in tears has not yet been studied. The aim of our study was twofold: to assess the prevalence of both SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies in tear fluid.MethodsIn a first series, nasopharyngeal sampling and tear sampling by Schirmer test strips were performed in 26 acutely ill patients with COVID-19 to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcription PCR. In a second series, IgG and IgA responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in serum and tear fluid of convalescent individuals (n=22) were compared with control individuals (n=15) by ELISA.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in tears of 7/26 (26.9%) patients with COVID-19. None of them had ocular symptoms. Convalescent individuals displayed a significant higher ratio of IgG (p<0.0001) and IgA (p=0.0068) in tears compared with control individuals. A sensitivity of 77.3% and specificity of 93.3% was observed for IgG, and 59.1% and 100% for IgA.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and a local IgG and IgA immune response in tear fluid. These data confirm the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through tear fluid and the importance of the eye as a first defence against SARS-CoV-2, indicating the potential of tears as a non-invasive surrogate for serum in monitoring the host immune response.

scholarly journals Immunological imprinting of the antibody response in COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Aydillo ◽  
Alexander Rombauts ◽  
Daniel Stadlbauer ◽  
Sadaf Aslam ◽  
Gabriela Abelenda-Alonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Human Coronaviruses

AbstractIn addition to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), humans are also susceptible to six other coronaviruses, for which consecutive exposures to antigenically related and divergent seasonal coronaviruses are frequent. Despite the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing research, the nature of the antibody response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear. Here we longitudinally profile the early humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and quantify levels of pre-existing immunity to OC43, HKU1 and 229E seasonal coronaviruses, and find a strong back-boosting effect to conserved but not variable regions of OC43 and HKU1 betacoronaviruses spike protein. However, such antibody memory boost to human coronaviruses negatively correlates with the induction of IgG and IgM against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid protein. Our findings thus provide evidence of immunological imprinting by previous seasonal coronavirus infections that can potentially modulate the antibody profile to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF IMMUNE ESCAPE VARIANTS FROM ANTIBODY-BASED THERAPEUTICS AGAINST COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Focosi ◽  
Fabrizio Maggi ◽  
Massimo Franchini ◽  
Scott McConnell ◽  
Arturo Casadevall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Acid Mutations

Accelerated SARS-CoV-2 evolution under selective pressure by massive deployment of neutralizing antibody-based therapeutics is a concern with potentially severe implications for public health. We review here reports of documented immune escape after treatment with monoclonal antibodies and COVID19 convalescent plasma (CCP). While the former is mainly associated with specific single amino acid mutations at residues within the receptor-binding domain (e.g., E484K/Q, Q493R, and S494P), the few cases of immune evasion after CCP were associated with recurrent deletions within the N-terminal domain of Spike protein (e.g, delHV69-70, delLGVY141-144 and delAL243-244). Continuous genomic monitoring of non-responders is needed to better understand immune escape frequencies and fitness of emerging variants.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of two SARS-CoV-2 variants with spike protein mutations to neutralising antibodies

Virus Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Müller ◽  
Philipp Girl ◽  
Andreas Giebl ◽  
Stefanie Gruetzner ◽  
Markus Antwerpen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Antibody Treatment ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Protein Mutations

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 infections elicit a humoral immune response capable of neutralising the virus. However, multiple variants have emerged with mutations in the spike protein amongst others, the key target of neutralising antibodies. We evaluated the neutralising efficacy of 89 serum samples from patients, infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the beginning of 2020, against two virus variants isolated from acutely infected patients and harbouring spike protein mutations. One isolate was assigned to lineage B.1.351 (MUC-IMB-B.1.351) whilst the other (MUC-484) was isolated from an immunocompromised patient, sharing some but not all mutations with B.1.351 and representing a transitional variant. Both variants showed a significant reduction in neutralisation sensitivity compared to wild-type SARS-CoV-2 with MUC-IMB-B.1.351 being almost completely resistant to neutralisation. The observed reduction in neutralising activity of wild-type-specific antibodies against both variants suggests that individual mutations in the spike protein are sufficient to confer a potent escape from the humoral immune response. In addition, the effect of escape mutations seems to accumulate, so that more heavily mutated variants show a greater loss of sensitivity to neutralisation up to complete insensitivity as observed for MUC-IMB-B.1.351. From a clinical point of view, this might affect the efficacy of (monoclonal) antibody treatment of patients with prolonged infections as well as patients infected with variants other than the donor. At the same, this could also negatively influence the efficacy of current vaccines (as they are based on wild-type spike protein) emphasising the need to thoroughly surveil the emergence and distribution of variants and adapt vaccines and therapeutics accordingly.

scholarly journals MERS-CoV Spike Protein Vaccine and Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Formulated with Single Strand RNA Adjuvant Induce T-Cell Activation through Intranasal Immunization in Mice

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Hye-Jung Kim ◽  
Hye Won Kwak ◽  
Kyung Won Kang ◽  
Yoo-Jin Bang ◽  
Yu-Sun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Intranasal Immunization ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Inoculation Route

The effectiveness of vaccines is enhanced by adding adjuvants. Furthermore, the selection of an inoculation route depends on the type of adjuvant used and is important for achieving optimum vaccine efficacy. We investigated the immunological differences between two types of vaccines—spike protein from the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus and inactivated influenza virus vaccine, in combination with a single-stranded RNA adjuvant—administered through various routes (intramuscular, intradermal, and intranasal) to BALB/c mice. Intramuscular immunization with the RNA adjuvant-formulated spike protein elicited the highest humoral immune response, characterized by IgG1 and neutralizing antibody production. Although intranasal immunization did not elicit a humoral response, it showed extensive T-cell activation through large-scale induction of interferon-γ- and interleukin-2-secreting cells, as well as CD4+ T-cell activation in mouse splenocytes. Moreover, only intranasal immunization induced IgA production. When immunized with the inactivated influenza vaccine, administration of the RNA adjuvant via all routes led to protection after viral challenge, regardless of the presence of a vaccine-specific antibody. Therefore, the inoculation route should depend on the type of immune response needed; i.e., the intramuscular route is suitable for eliciting a humoral immune response, whereas the intranasal route is useful for T-cell activation and IgA induction.

scholarly journals Delta infection following vaccination elicits potent neutralizing immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai-Juan Ma ◽  
Lin Yao ◽  
Hui-Xia Gao ◽  
Ka-Li Zhu ◽  
Jun Rong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
High Potency ◽  
Breakthrough Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Activity ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Delta Infection

Abstract Since the initial detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in November 2021 in South Africa, it has caused a rapid increase in infections globally. The Omicron variant encodes 37 amino acid substitutions in its spike protein, and early reports have provided evidence for extensive immune escape and reduced vaccine effectiveness. We assessed serum neutralizing activity in sera from Delta infection following vaccination of CoronaVac or ZF2001 and Delta infection only against SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 (WA1), Beta, Delta, and Omicron. We found that sera from Delta infection only could neutralize WA1 and Delta pseudoviruses but nearly completely lost capacity to neutralize Beta and Omicron pseudoviruses. However, Delta infection following vaccination resulted in a significant increase of serum neutralizing activity against WA1, Beta, and Omicron. This study demonstrates that breakthrough infection of Delta in previously vaccinated individuals substantially induced high potency humoral immune response against the Omicron variant and other emerged variants.

scholarly journals Humoral immune response to circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants elicited by inactivated and RBD-subunit vaccines

Cell Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlong Cao ◽  
Ayijiang Yisimayi ◽  
Yali Bai ◽  
Weijin Huang ◽  
Xiaofeng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Neutralizing Activity ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Complementarity Determining Regions

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 variants could induce immune escape by mutations on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD). Here we report the humoral immune response to circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), of the plasma and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) elicited by CoronaVac (inactivated vaccine), ZF2001 (RBD-subunit vaccine) and natural infection. Among 86 potent NAbs identified by high-throughput single-cell VDJ sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from vaccinees and convalescents, near half anti-RBD NAbs showed major neutralization reductions against the K417N/E484K/N501Y mutation combination, with E484K being the dominant cause. VH3-53/VH3-66 recurrent antibodies respond differently to RBD variants, and K417N compromises the majority of neutralizing activity through reduced polar contacts with complementarity determining regions. In contrast, the 242–244 deletion (242–244Δ) would abolish most neutralization activity of anti-NTD NAbs by interrupting the conformation of NTD antigenic supersite, indicating a much less diversity of anti-NTD NAbs than anti-RBD NAbs. Plasma of convalescents and CoronaVac vaccinees displayed comparable neutralization reductions against pseudo- and authentic 501Y.V2 variants, mainly caused by E484K/N501Y and 242–244Δ, with the effects being additive. Importantly, RBD-subunit vaccinees exhibit markedly higher tolerance to 501Y.V2 than convalescents, since the elicited anti-RBD NAbs display a high diversity and are unaffected by NTD mutations. Moreover, an extended gap between the third and second doses of ZF2001 leads to better neutralizing activity and tolerance to 501Y.V2 than the standard three-dose administration. Together, these results suggest that the deployment of RBD-vaccines, through a third-dose boost, may be ideal for combating SARS-CoV-2 variants when necessary, especially for those carrying mutations that disrupt the NTD supersite.

scholarly journals Determination of IgG1 and IgG3 SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleocapsid binding. Who is binding who and why?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason K Iles ◽  
Raminta Zmuidinaite ◽  
Christoph Sadee ◽  
Anna Gardiner ◽  
Jonathan Lacey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Differential Analysis ◽  
Cytokine Release ◽  
Spectral Signatures ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Differential Ability ◽  
Control Plasma

The involvement of IgG3 within the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV2 infection has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARDS in COVID-19. The exact molecular mechanism is unknown but is thought to involve this IgG subtypes differential ability to fix complement and stimulate cytokine release. We examined convalescent patients antibodies binding to immobilised nucleocapsid and spike protein by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. IgG3 was a major immunoglobulin found in all samples. Differential analysis of the spectral signatures found for nucleocapsid versus spike protein demonstrated that the predominant humoral immune response to nucleocapsid was IgG3, whilst against spike it was IgG1. However, the spike protein displayed a strong affinity for IgG3 itself which it would bind from control plasma samples as well as from those previously infected with SARS-CoV2, much in the way Protein-G binds IgG1. Furthermore, detailed spectral analysis indicated a mass shift consistent with hyper-glycosylation or glycation was a characteristic of the IgG3 captured by the spike protein.

scholarly journals Humoral Immune Response Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Liver Transplant Recipients

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1422
Author(s):  
Lea Timmermann ◽  
Brigitta Globke ◽  
Georg Lurje ◽  
Moritz Schmelzle ◽  
Wenzel Schöning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Liver Transplant ◽  
Humoral Immune Response ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Immunosuppressive Regimen ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Liver Transplant Recipients

As COVID-19 remains an issue in transplantation medicine, a successful vaccination can prevent infections and life-threatening courses. The probability of poor immune response in liver transplant recipients gained attention and insecurity among those patients, leading us to investigate the humoral immune response alongside the influence of underlying diseases and immunosuppressive regimen on seroconversion rates. We included 118 patients undergoing anti-spike-protein-IgG testing at least 21 days after completed SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Ninety-seven patients also underwent anti-spike-protein-IgA testing. The influence of baseline demographics, immunosuppressive regimen and underlying disease on seroconversion was analyzed, and 92 of 118 patients (78.0%) developed anti-spike-protein-IgG antibodies. Patients with a history of alcoholic liver disease before transplantation showed significantly lower seroconversion rates (p = 0.006). Immunosuppression also significantly influenced antibody development (p < 0.001). Patients run on a mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regimen were more likely not to develop antibodies compared to patients run on a non-MMF regimen (p < 0.001). All patients weaned off immunosuppression were seropositive. The seroconversion rate of 78.0% in our cohort of liver transplant recipients is promising. The identification of alcohol-induced cirrhosis as underlying disease and MMF for immunosuppression as risk factors for seronegativity may serve to identify vaccination non-responder after liver transplantation.

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