Sequentially immune-induced antibodies could cross-neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants

The Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-COV-2 variant has raised serious concerns because of its unprecedented rapid rate of spreading and the fact that there are 36 mutations in the spike protein. Since the vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody targets are the spike protein, this may lead to the possibility of vaccine-induced humoral immunity escape.

We measured the neutralizing activity in vitro for Omicron and compared this with wild type (WH-09) and Delta variants in human and monkey sera from different types of immunity. The monkey sera samples were collected at 1 and 3 months post three-dose inactivated (PiCoVacc) and recombinant protein (ZF2001) vaccination. Human sera were collected from 1 month post three-dose inactivated vaccination.

In inactivated vaccine sera, at 1/3 months post three-dose, geometric mean titers (GMTs) of neutralization antibody (NAb) against the Omicron variant were 4.9/5.2-fold lower than those of the wild type. In recombinant protein vaccine sera, GMTs of NAb against Omicron were 15.7/8.9-fold lower than those of the wild type. In human sera, at 1 month post three-dose inactivated vaccination, GMTs of NAb against Omicron were 3.1-fold lower than those of the wild type.

This study demonstrated that despite a reduction in neutralization titers, cross-neutralizing activity against Omicron and Delta variants was still observed after three doses of inactivated and recombinant protein vaccination.