The study explores the efficacy of three-dose monovalent or bivalent vaccinations in neutralizing newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.2.86 and FLip. While BA.2.86 showed lower immune evasion abilities compared to recent XBB variants, it was less effectively neutralized by the monoclonal antibody S309, raising questions about vaccine efficacy against evolving strains.
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanSep 17 2023Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv preprint* server, researchers examine the neutralization of the recently identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants BA.2.86 and FLip, which is a variant from the XBB-lineage, using sera from healthcare workers with three-dose monovalent or bivalent vaccinations, and individuals infected with the XBB.1.5 variant.
Background The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has remained a major challenge to vaccine development. Viral variants such as Omicron and its subvariants contain mutations in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein that allow them to escape neutralizing antibodies generated against SARS-CoV-2 by the various vaccines developed since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
About the study In the present study, researchers examine neutralizing antibody titers against BA.2.86, as well as D614G, Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5, and the recent Omicron variants EG.5.1 and FLip. To this end, serum samples obtained from healthcare workers who were vaccinated with either three doses of the monovalent mRNA vaccine or two doses of the monovalent mRNA vaccine and one dose of the bivalent mRNA vaccine were utilized.
Related StoriesHEK293T cells cotransfected with the spike protein from each of the variants and enhanced green fluorescent protein were used to determine the fusogenicity of the spike protein. HEK293T cells used to produce the lentiviruses were also stained using polyclonal antibodies against the S1 subunit of the spike protein to determine the surface expression of the spike protein.
The infectivity and fusogenicity of the BA.2.86 variant were lower in HEK293T cells but higher in CaLu-3 cells as compared to most of the XBB variants. This observation indicates changes in the conformational stability of BA.2.86.
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