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Multi-talented Antibodies Against COVID-19 Variants

 Neutralizing Efficacies of Antibodies Produced by new COVID-19 Variants
    This past year, multiple coronavirus variants have emerged and have been deemed more transmissible than preexisting variants. The most prominent include the B.1.1.7 variant, which originated in the UK, and the 501Y.V2 or B.1.351 variant, which originated in South Africa. Much concern has grown surrounding these variants: recently approved vaccines demonstrate decreased efficiencies against these new strains, particularly the B.1.351 variant. Nevertheless, different treatment methods including convalescent plasma, have shown promise in reducing COVID-19 severity and speeding up recovery time. Convalescent plasma, or blood (donated by recovered COVID-19 patients) that contains antibodies which fight off the coronavirus, can prevent individuals from reinfection or be injected in other COVID-19 patients to speed up recovery. With the emergence of new variants, some may wonder how these new strains affect the efficacy of convalescent plasma treatment. Can the antibodies produced by a certain variant fight off a separate COVID-19 variant? A study published in Nature on March 29, 2021, investigates how the efficacy of antibodies produced by the highly transmissible 501Y.V2 variant differ from that of preexisting variants.

About the Study

    The study was conducted in South Africa, utilizing data from 2 waves of coronavirus infections. The first wave peaked in July 2020, prior to the emergence of the 501Y.V2 variant. In contrast, the second wave, which peaked in January 2021, was dominated with the 501Y.V2 variant; this variant made up 97% of COVID-19 cases in the second wave. Plasma was extracted and analyzed from 14 participants in the first wave (none of whom harbored the 501Y.V2 variant) and 3 participants in the second wave (all of whom had the infecting 501Y.V2 variant). 

Study Results

    Plasma from the first wave was only effective at neutralizing, or destroying, the first wave virus. However, the study found that the "501Y.V2 virus was poorly neutralized by first wave plasma." In comparison to second wave plasma, first wave plasma was 15x less effective in neutralizing the 501Y.V2 variant across participants. These initial results did not come as a shock because it is expected that plasma from patients exposed to a certain variant would contain antibodies effective in fighting of that specific variant. However, it was found that the second wave plasma was also effective against the first wave virus in addition to the 501Y.V2 variant, despite the plasma having a different infecting variant (501Y.V2). The efficacy of second wave plasma against the first wave virus showed only a 2.3-fold decline relative to first wave plasma.


Implications

    The findings of this study are noteworthy and come with a significant implication: vaccines that are effective against 501Y.V2 could also be effective against earlier coronavirus variants. If the decrease of vaccine efficacy against newer variants calls for vaccine redesign, this information is important to keep in mind during the development of new vaccines. The study results also indicate that individuals infected with the 501Y.V2 variant and seeking convalescent plasma treatment should be given 501Y.V2 plasma as the study found that the variant is poorly neutralized by non-501Y.V2 plasma. 

    The study suggests that antibodies developed against preexisting variants are ineffective against some of the newer and more transmissible variants. With this in mind, it is important to acknowledge that a vaccine doesn't provide complete immunity to the coronavirus, especially against newer and more concerning variants. Therefore, those who have been vaccinated should take precautions and still follow regular COVID-19 safety guidelines such as wearing a mask and social distancing.

Sources

1. Cele, Sandile, et al. “Escape of SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 from Neutralization by Convalescent Plasma.” Nature, 29 Mar. 2021, doi:https://doi.org/f362.

Comments

  1. mary princeJanuary 6, 2022 at 5:12 PM

    Thanks for writing this great article! It’s very informative, and you included some great points to the equally great article regarding Rapid Covid Test Kit for Sale.

    ReplyDelete

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