Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 27, 2021

Increased Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 to Antibody Neutralization

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[Pre-print, not per-reviewed] The SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 (UK) was resistant to neutralization by several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting either the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the virus’s spike protein or its receptor-binding domain (RBD). This variant was also modestly more resistant to neutralization with convalescent plasma (about 3 fold) and sera from people who had received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines (about 2 fold). The B.1.351 (South Africa) variant resisted neutralization by most NTD mAbs, multiple individual mAbs directed against the RBD, convalescent plasma (about 11-33 fold), and sera from vaccinated people (about 6.5-8.6 fold). The authors note that loss of neutralizing activity against the B.1.1.7 variant is unlikely to have an adverse impact, while the reduction in activity levels against the B.1.351 variant were potentially concerning. 

Wang et al. (Jan 26, 2021). Increased Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 to Antibody Neutralization. Pre-print downloaded January 27 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.25.428137