Host Cell Entry and Neutralization Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages B.1.620 and R.1
Anzhalika Sidarovich,
Nadine Krüger,
Cheila Rocha,
Luise Graichen,
Amy Kempf,
Inga Nehlmeier,
Martin Lier,
Anne Cossmann,
Metodi V. Stankov,
Sebastian R. Schulz,
Georg M. N. Behrens,
Hans-Martin Jäck,
Stefan Pöhlmann,
Markus Hoffmann
Affiliations
Anzhalika Sidarovich
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Nadine Krüger
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Cheila Rocha
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Luise Graichen
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Amy Kempf
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Inga Nehlmeier
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Martin Lier
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Göttingen Medical Center, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Anne Cossmann
Department for Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Metodi V. Stankov
Department for Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Sebastian R. Schulz
Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Georg M. N. Behrens
Department for Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Hans-Martin Jäck
Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Stefan Pöhlmann
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Markus Hoffmann
Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) facilitates viral entry into host cells and is the key target for neutralizing antibodies. The SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 carries fifteen mutations in the S protein and is spread in Africa, the US and Europe, while lineage R.1 harbors four mutations in S and infections were observed in several countries, particularly Japan and the US. However, the impact of the mutations in B.1.620 and R.1 S proteins on antibody-mediated neutralization and host cell entry are largely unknown. Here, we report that these mutations are compatible with robust ACE2 binding and entry into cell lines, and they markedly reduce neutralization by vaccine-induced antibodies. Our results reveal evasion of neutralizing antibodies by B.1.620 and R.1, which might have contributed to the spread of these lineages.
