SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.351 and B.1.1.248: Escape from therapeutic antibodies and antibodies induced by infection and vaccination

Hoffmann, Markus; Arora, Prerna; Groß, Rüdiger; Seidel, Alina; Hörnich, Bojan; Hahn, Alexander; Krüger, Nadine; Graichen, Luise; Hofmann-Winkler, Heike; Kempf, Amy; Winkler, Martin Sebastian; Schulz, Sebastian; Jäck, Hans-Martin; Jahrsdörfer, Bernd; Schrezenmeier, Hubert; Müller, Martin; Kleger, Alexander; Münch, Jan; Pöhlmann, Stefan

The global spread of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 is devastating health systems and economies worldwide. Recombinant or vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies are used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa) and B.1.1.248 (Brazil) harbor mutations in the viral spike (S) protein that may alter virus-host cell interactions and confer resistance to inhibitors and antibodies. Here, using pseudoparticles, we show that entry of UK, South Africa and Brazil variant into human cells is susceptible to blockade by entry inhibitors. In contrast, entry of the South Africa and Brazil variant was partially (Casirivimab) or fully (Bamlanivimab) resistant to antibodies used for COVID-19 treatment and was less efficiently inhibited by serum/plasma from convalescent or BNT162b2 vaccinated individuals. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may escape antibody responses, which has important implications for efforts to contain the pandemic.