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Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern protects mice from challenge with wild-type virus.

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Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Strohmeier, Shirin 
Meade, Philip 
Dambrauskas, Nicholas 
Mühlemann, Barbara  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5314-8530

Abstract

Vaccines against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been highly efficient in protecting against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the emergence of viral variants that are more transmissible and, in some cases, escape from neutralizing antibody responses has raised concerns. Here, we evaluated recombinant protein spike antigens derived from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and from variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 for their immunogenicity and protective effect in vivo against challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in the mouse model. All proteins induced high neutralizing antibodies against the respective viruses but also induced high cross-neutralizing antibody responses. The decline in neutralizing titers between variants was moderate, with B.1.1.7-vaccinated animals having a maximum fold reduction of 4.8 against B.1.351 virus. P.1 induced the most cross-reactive antibody responses but was also the least immunogenic in terms of homologous neutralization titers. However, all antigens protected from challenge with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model.

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Journal Title

PLoS Biol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1544-9173
1545-7885

Volume Title

19

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (via Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM)) (HHSN272201400008C)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (via Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM)) (0258-0513/HHSN272201400008C)