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Characterization of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant that emerged in Brazil.
- Source :
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] 2021 Jul 06; Vol. 118 (27). - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) plays a key role in viral infectivity. It is also the major antigen stimulating the host's protective immune response, specifically, the production of neutralizing antibodies. Recently, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 possessing multiple mutations in the S protein, designated P.1, emerged in Brazil. Here, we characterized a P.1 variant isolated in Japan by using Syrian hamsters, a well-established small animal model for the study of SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19). In hamsters, the variant showed replicative abilities and pathogenicity similar to those of early and contemporary strains (i.e., SARS-CoV-2 bearing aspartic acid [D] or glycine [G] at position 614 of the S protein). Sera and/or plasma from convalescent patients and BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccinees showed comparable neutralization titers across the P.1 variant, S-614D, and S-614G strains. In contrast, the S-614D and S-614G strains were less well recognized than the P.1 variant by serum from a P.1-infected patient. Prior infection with S-614D or S-614G strains efficiently prevented the replication of the P.1 variant in the lower respiratory tract of hamsters upon reinfection. In addition, passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies to hamsters infected with the P.1 variant or the S-614G strain led to reduced virus replication in the lower respiratory tract. However, the effect was less pronounced against the P.1 variant than the S-614G strain. These findings suggest that the P.1 variant may be somewhat antigenically different from the early and contemporary strains of SARS-CoV-2.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing
COVID-19 diagnostic imaging
COVID-19 pathology
Cricetinae
Humans
Immunogenicity, Vaccine
Lung pathology
Mesocricetus
Mice
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus genetics
X-Ray Microtomography
COVID-19 virology
SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity
SARS-CoV-2 physiology
Virus Replication
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1091-6490
- Volume :
- 118
- Issue :
- 27
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34140350
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2106535118