Limited Impact of Delta Variant’s Mutations on the Effectiveness of Neutralization Conferred by Natural Infection or COVID-19 Vaccines in a Latino Population
Carlos A. Sariol,
Crisanta Serrano-Collazo,
Edwin J. Ortiz,
Petraleigh Pantoja,
Lorna Cruz,
Teresa Arana,
Dianne Atehortua,
Christina Pabon-Carrero,
Ana M. Espino
Affiliations
Carlos A. Sariol
Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Crisanta Serrano-Collazo
Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Edwin J. Ortiz
Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Petraleigh Pantoja
Unit of Comparative Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Lorna Cruz
Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Teresa Arana
Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Dianne Atehortua
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA
Christina Pabon-Carrero
Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, San Juan, PR 00927, USA
Ana M. Espino
Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted public health systems all over the world. The Delta variant seems to possess enhanced transmissibility, but no clear evidence suggests it has increased virulence. Our data show that pre-exposed individuals had similar neutralizing activity against the authentic COVID-19 strain and the Delta and Epsilon variants. After only one vaccine dose, the neutralization capacity expanded to all tested variants in pre-exposed individuals. Healthy vaccinated individuals showed a limited breadth of neutralization. One vaccine dose did induce similar neutralizing antibodies against the Delta as against the authentic strain. However, even after two doses, this capacity only expanded to the Epsilon variant.
