Abstract
The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages mandates a better understanding of viral replication and cross-neutralization among these sublineages. Here we used K18-hACE2 mice and primary human airway cultures to examine the viral fitness and antigenic relationship among Omicron sublineages. In both K18-hACE2 mice and human airway cultures, Omicron sublineages exhibited a replication order of BA.5 ≥ BA.2 ≥ BA.2.12.1 > BA.1; no difference in body weight loss was observed among different sublineage-infected mice. The BA.1-, BA.2-, BA.2.12.1-, and BA.5-infected mice developed distinguishable cross-neutralizations against Omicron sublineages, but exhibited little neutralization against the index virus (i.e. USA-WA1/2020) or the Delta variant. Surprisingly, the BA.5-infected mice developed higher neutralization activity against heterologous BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 than that against homologous BA.5; serum neutralizing titres did not always correlate with viral replication levels in infected animals. Our results revealed a distinct antigenic cartography of Omicron sublineages and support the bivalent vaccine approach.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e2161422 |
Pages (from-to) | e2161422 |
Journal | Emerging Microbes and Infections |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2023 |
Keywords
- SARS-CoV-2
- antigenicity
- neutralization
- variants
- viral fitness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Drug Discovery
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology