Biology subjects

Dopfer-Jablonka, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Dopfer-Jablonka, A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Epidemiology and virological characteristics of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1

SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally at high levels and to evolve into new variants. Recently, a new saltation variant harbouring a highly mutated spike protein, PJ.2.1, emerged in North America. Here, we provide a brief epidemiological and virological characterization of PJ.2.1 and cocirculating variants. We report that PJ.2.1 is spreading in the USA, Canada, and Spain and mainly infects individuals aged 60 years and older, as do most other variants, with the exception of BA.3.2, which preferentially infects individuals aged 0-9 years. PJ.2.1 was less susceptible to inhibition by an antibody against ACE2 than were the other variants, indicating increased ACE2 binding. In contrast, PJ.2.1 did not show augmented evasion of antibodies from vaccinees who had received the LP.8.1-adapted vaccine compared with most other variants analysed. These results suggest that augmented ACE2 affinity rather than increased antibody evasion might drive the current, rapid spread of PJ.2.1.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Impact of JN.1 booster vaccination on neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 variants KP.3.1.1 and XEC

The SARS-CoV-2 KP.3.1.1 lineage is currently the dominating lineage on several continents. In parallel, the XEC lineage, a recombinant of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, is on track of becoming the next dominant lineage in Europe and North America. Here we performed a rapid virological characterisation of the XEC lineage and studied the impact of JN.1 mRNA booster vaccination on KP.3.1.1 and XEC neutralisation.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Virological traits of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.87.1 lineage

The highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.87.1 lineage was recently detected in South Africa, but its transmissibility is unknown. Here, we report that BA.2.87.1 efficiently enters human cells but is more sensitive to antibody-mediated neutralization than the currently dominating JN.1 variant. Acquisition of adaptive mutations might thus be needed for high transmissibility.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The Omicron variant is highly resistant against antibody-mediated neutralization - implications for control of the COVID-19 pandemic

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant suggests that the virus might become globally dominant. Further, the high number of mutations in the viral spike-protein raised concerns that the virus might evade antibodies induced by infection or vaccination. Here, we report that the Omicron spike was resistant against most therapeutic antibodies but remained susceptible to inhibition by Sotrovimab. Similarly, the Omicron spike evaded neutralization by antibodies from convalescent or BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals with 10- to 44-fold higher efficiency than the spike of the Delta variant. Neutralization of the Omicron spike by antibodies induced upon heterologous ChAdOx1/BNT162b2-vaccination or vaccination with three doses of BNT162b2 was more efficient, but the Omicron spike still evaded neutralization more efficiently than the Delta spike. These findings indicate that most therapeutic antibodies will be ineffective against the Omicron variant and that double immunization with BNT162b2 might not adequately protect against severe disease induced by this variant.

microbiology↗