Publications
VirusesSep 2022 |
14
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9
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DOI:
10.3390/v14092023

Improved Neutralisation of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant following a Booster Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 Vaccine

Basile, Kerri; Rockett, Rebecca J; McPhie, Kenneth; Fennell, Michael; Johnson-Mackinnon, Jessica; Agius, Jessica E; Fong, Winkie; Rahman, Hossinur; Ko, Danny; Donavan, Linda; Hueston, Linda; Lam, Connie; Arnott, Alicia; Chen, Sharon C-A; Maddocks, Susan; O'Sullivan, Matthew V; Dwyer, Dominic E; Sintchenko, Vitali; Kok, Jen
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
In late November 2021, the World Health Organization declared the SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.529 the fifth variant of concern, Omicron. This variant has acquired over 30 mutations in the spike protein (with 15 in the receptor-binding domain), raising concerns that Omicron could evade naturally acquired and vaccine-derived immunity. We utilized an authentic virus, multicycle neutralisation assay to demonstrate that sera collected one, three, and six months post-two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 had a limited ability to neutralise SARS-CoV-2. However, four weeks after a third dose, neutralising antibody titres were boosted. Despite this increase, neutralising antibody titres were reduced fourfold for Omicron compared to lineage A.2.2 SARS-CoV-2.
Product Used
Genes

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