Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants to neutralization by antibodies induced in convalescent patients with COVID-19

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 36; no. 2; p. 109385
• Main Authors: Kaku, Yu, Kuwata, Takeo, Zahid, Hasan Md, Hashiguchi, Takao, Noda, Takeshi, Kuramoto, Noriko, Biswas, Shashwata, Matsumoto, Kaho, Shimizu, Mikiko, Kawanami, Yoko, Shimura, Kazuya, Onishi, Chiho, Muramoto, Yukiko, Suzuki, Tateki, Sasaki, Jiei, Nagasaki, Yoji, Minami, Rumi, Motozono, Chihiro, Toyoda, Mako, Takahashi, Hiroshi, Kishi, Hiroto, Fujii, Kazuhiko, Tatsuke, Tsuneyuki, Ikeda, Terumasa, Maeda, Yosuke, Ueno, Takamasa, Koyanagi, Yoshio, Iwagoe, Hajime, Matsushita, Shuzo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 13.07.2021; The Author(s); Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Neutralizing - isolation & purification; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Cell Line; COVID-19; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - therapy; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Serotherapy; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Immunization, Passive; mAb; Male; Mutation; Neutralization Tests; neutralizing antibody; Protein Domains; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; variant; COVID-19; variant; neutralizing antibody; SARS-CoV-2; mAb
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109385

Administration of convalescent plasma or neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a potent therapeutic option for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in the spike protein have emerged in many countries. To evaluate the efficacy of neutralizing antibodies induced in convalescent patients against emerging variants, we isolate anti-spike mAbs from two convalescent COVID-19 patients infected with prototypic SARS-CoV-2 by single-cell sorting of immunoglobulin-G-positive (IgG+) memory B cells. Anti-spike antibody induction is robust in these patients, and five mAbs have potent neutralizing activities. The efficacy of most neutralizing mAbs and convalescent plasma samples is maintained against B.1.1.7 and mink cluster 5 variants but is significantly decreased against variants B.1.351 from South Africa and P.1 from Brazil. However, mAbs with a high affinity for the receptor-binding domain remain effective against these neutralization-resistant variants. Rapid spread of these variants significantly impacts antibody-based therapies and vaccine strategies against SARS-CoV-2. [Display omitted] •Neutralizing mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 are isolated from two convalescent patients•Efficacy of antibodies is maintained against B.1.1.7 and mink cluster 5 variants•B.1.351 from South Africa and P.1 from Brazil are resistant to mAbs and plasmas•mAbs with high affinity for the RBD efficiently cross-neutralize B.1.351 and P.1 Kaku et al. demonstrate that the efficacy of neutralizing mAbs and convalescent plasma is maintained against SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 from the UK and mink cluster 5 but decreases against B.1.351 from South Africa and P.1 from Brazil. Rapid spread of these variants significantly impacts SARS-CoV-2 therapies and vaccine strategies.