Download This PaperEmerging SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 Reduces Neutralization Activity of Antibodies Against Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2
8 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2021
Date Written: March 19, 2021
Abstract
Abstract: Spike-specific antibodies contribute significantly to the neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 and are important for the therapeutic effect of convalescent plasma. B.1.1.7 is a recently emerged variant of SARS-CoV-2 that has several mutations in the gene encoding for the spike-protein. To assess the potential effect these mutations could have on the neutralizing efficacy of antibodies, we evaluated 96 serum samples from convalescent plasma donors collected before the first occurrence of B.1.1.7 and tested their neutralizing effect on wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and B.1.1.7. We found that B.1.1.7 is more resistant to neutralization by convalescent plasma from patients infected with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 with an overall decrease in neutralizing activity of 47.7%. Thus, the neutralizing effect of convalescent plasma should be determined against the major circulating virus clades whenever possible to ensure the best possible therapeutic effect.
Note: Funding Statement: This study was funded by the Medical Biodefense Research Program of the Bundeswehr Medical Service.
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.
Ethics Approval Statement: The study was carried out in-line with “The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki)”. The use of serum samples complied with the guidelines of the Central Ethics Committee of the German Medical Association (Dtsch Arztebl 2003; 100(23): A-1632). In accordance with these guidelines, the anonymized use of residual material from the samples sent to our laboratory for diagnostic purposes is permissible, provided that the patients have not decided against this procedure. Samples from patients who had decided against this procedure were excluded from the analyses.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, B.1.1.7., Convalescent Plasma, Neutralization
JEL Classification: I19
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation