Plasma after both SARS-CoV-2 boosted vaccination and COVID-19 potently neutralizes BQ.1.1 and XBB.1

J Gen Virol. 2023 May;104(5):001854. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001854.

Abstract

Recent 2022 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, have acquired resistance to most neutralizing anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies authorized, and the BQ.1.* sublineages are notably resistant to all authorized monoclonal antibodies. Polyclonal antibodies from individuals both vaccinated and recently recovered from Omicron COVID-19 (VaxCCP) could retain new Omicron neutralizing activity. Here we reviewed BQ.1.* virus neutralization data from 920 individual patient samples from 43 separate cohorts defined by boosted vaccinations (Vax) with or without recent Omicron COVID-19, as well as infection without vaccination (CCP) to determine level of BQ.1.* neutralizing antibodies and percent of plasma samples with neutralizing activity. More than 90 % of the plasma samples from individuals in the recently (within 6 months) boosted VaxCCP study cohorts neutralized BQ.1.1, and BF.7 with 100 % neutralization of WA-1, BA.4/5, BA.4.6 and BA.2.75. The geometric mean of the geometric mean 50 % neutralizing titres (GM (GMT50) were 314, 78 and 204 for BQ.1.1, XBB.1 and BF.7, respectively. Compared to VaxCCP, plasma sampled from COVID-19 naïve subjects who also recently (within 6 months) received at least a third vaccine dose had about half of the GM (GMT50) for all viral variants. Boosted VaxCCP characterized by either recent vaccine dose or infection event within 6 months represents a robust, variant-resilient, neutralizing antibody source against the new Omicron BQ.1.1, XBB.1 and BF.7 variants.

Keywords: BF.7: virus neutralization; BQ.1.1; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; XBB; convalescent plasma.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants