Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Detection of Neutralization-sensitive Epitopes in Antigens Displayed on Virus-Like Particle VLP-Based Vaccines Using a Capture Assay
Published on: February 10, 2022
Non-Neutralizing Epitopes Shade Neutralizing Epitopes against Omicron in a Multiple Epitope-Based Vaccine
Hua-Rui Gong1, Ye-Fan Hu1,2, Xuechen Li3
1School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 3/F, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong kong 999077, China.
A new study reveals that some SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can enhance Omicron infection due to non-neutralizing epitopes. Researchers identified a conserved epitope that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants, offering insights for improved vaccine design.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlights concerns regarding SARS-CoV-2 re-infection and antibody-dependent enhancement.
- Non-neutralizing epitopes are implicated in antibody-dependent enhancement, a phenomenon not fully understood for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants.
- Previous research identified an infectivity-enhancing site on the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate infection enhancement of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain by antibodies induced by a multiple epitope-based vaccine.
- To identify specific epitopes responsible for infection enhancement or neutralization across different SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- To provide epitope-level insights for designing next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- Examining antibodies induced by a multiple epitope-based vaccine for infection enhancement against ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Delta, and Omicron strains.
- Analyzing antibodies from single epitope-based vaccines to pinpoint neutralizing and non-neutralizing epitopes.
- Characterizing the neutralizing activity of specific epitopes against various SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Main Results:
- A multiple epitope-based vaccine induced antibodies that enhanced Omicron infection but not ancestral or Delta strain infection.
- A conserved epitope, IDf (450-469), demonstrated neutralizing activity against ancestral SARS-CoV-2, Delta, and Omicron variants.
- Immunodominant non-neutralizing epitopes, such as IDg (480-499), within the vaccine obscured the neutralizing activity of other epitopes, leading to Omicron infection enhancement.
Conclusions:
- Non-neutralizing epitopes in multi-epitope vaccines can lead to infection enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron.
- A specific conserved epitope exhibits broad neutralizing activity against key SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- Understanding epitope immunodominance is crucial for developing effective vaccines and antibody therapies against evolving SARS-CoV-2 strains.
More Related Videos
06:08Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
Published on: September 8, 2023
04:47A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies
Published on: February 23, 2018
Related Concept Videos
00:42Cross-reactivity
01:41Affinity and Avidity
01:26Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and...
01:26Antibody Actions
Neutralization
Antibodies can bind to pathogens, preventing them from infecting host cells. This process...
01:28Diversity of Antigen Receptors
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...