mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccines have reduced neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant

• Published in: Cell reports. Medicine Vol. 3; no. 2; p. 100529
• Main Authors: Edara, Venkata-Viswanadh, Manning, Kelly E., Ellis, Madison, Lai, Lilin, Moore, Kathryn M., Foster, Stephanie L., Floyd, Katharine, Davis-Gardner, Meredith E., Mantus, Grace, Nyhoff, Lindsay E., Bechnak, Sarah, Alaaeddine, Ghina, Naji, Amal, Samaha, Hady, Lee, Matthew, Bristow, Laurel, Gagne, Matthew, Roberts-Torres, Jesmine, Henry, Amy R., Godbole, Sucheta, Grakoui, Arash, Saxton, Marybeth, Piantadosi, Anne, Waggoner, Jesse J., Douek, Daniel C., Rouphael, Nadine, Wrammert, Jens, Suthar, Mehul S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.02.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273 - immunology; Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Aged; Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; antibody; B.1.1.529; BNT162 Vaccine - immunology; booster dose; Chlorocebus aethiops; Cohort Studies; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - virology; Female; Humans; Immunization, Secondary - methods; live-virus; Male; Middle Aged; mRNA vaccines; Mutation; neutralization assay; Neutralization Tests; Omicron; Omicron variant; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Vaccination - methods; vaccine induced immunity; Vero Cells; Young Adult; Omicron variant; SARS-CoV-2; antibody; B.1.1.529; booster dose; mRNA vaccines; neutralization assay; live-virus; Omicron; vaccine induced immunity
• ISSN: 2666-3791; 2666-3791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100529

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant emerged in November 2021 and consists of several mutations within the spike. We use serum from mRNA-vaccinated individuals to measure neutralization activity against omicron in a live-virus assay. At 2–4 weeks after a primary series of vaccinations, we observe a 30-fold reduction in neutralizing activity against omicron. Six months after the initial two-vaccine doses, sera from naive vaccinated subjects show no neutralizing activity against omicron. In contrast, COVID-19-recovered individuals 6 months after receiving the primary series of vaccinations show a 22-fold reduction, with the majority of the subjects retaining neutralizing antibody responses. In naive individuals following a booster shot (third dose), we observe a 14-fold reduction in neutralizing activity against omicron, and over 90% of subjects show neutralizing activity. These findings show that a third dose is required to provide robust neutralizing antibody responses against the omicron variant. [Display omitted] •Omicron has a significant impact on vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers•Naive vaccinated individuals lost nAb titers against omicron variant after 6 months•A booster (third dose) is required to maintain neutralizing activity against omicron Here in this study, Edara et al. report that 6 months after the primary series (initial two doses) of mRNA vaccination, the majority of the subjects lost detectable neutralizing antibody titers against omicron. The data suggest that a third booster dose is necessary to sustain neutralizing activity against omicron.