Top

Published in:

19-05-2023 | Coronavirus | Review

Omicron variant evolution on vaccines and monoclonal antibodies

Authors: Michela Sabbatucci, Antonio Vitiello, Salvatore Clemente, Andrea Zovi, Mariarosaria Boccellino, Francesco Ferrara, Carla Cimmino, Roberto Langella, Annarita Ponzo, Paola Stefanelli, Giovanni Rezza

Published in: Inflammopharmacology | Issue 4/2023

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic has caused almost 760 million confirmed cases and 7 million deaths worldwide, as of end-February 2023. Since the beginning of the first COVID-19 case, several virus variants have emerged: Alpha (B1.1.7), Beta (B135.1), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2) and then Omicron (B.1.1.529) and its sublineages. All variants have diversified in transmissibility, virulence, and pathogenicity. All the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants appear to contain some similar mutations associated with greater "evasiveness" of the virus to immune defences. From early 2022 onward, several Omicron subvariants named BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5, with comparable mutation forms, have followed. After the wave of contagions caused by Omicron BA.5, a new Indian variant named Centaurus BA.2.75 and its new subvariant BA.2.75.2, a second-generation evolution of the Omicron variant BA.2, have recently been identified. From early evidence, it appears that this new variant has higher affinity for the cell entry receptor ACE-2, making it potentially able to spread very fast. According to the latest studies, the BA.2.75.2 variant may be able to evade more antibodies in the bloodstream generated by vaccination or previous infection, and it may be more resistant to antiviral and monoclonal antibody drug treatments. In this manuscript, the authors highlight and describe the latest evidences and critical issues have emerged on the new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Balse E, Hatem SN (2021) Do cellular entry mechanisms of SARS-Cov-2 affect myocardial cells and contribute to cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients? Front Physiol 12:630778. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.630778CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Callaway E (2022a) New Omicron relatives BA.4 and BA.5 offer hints about the future of SARS-CoV-2. Nature 605:204–206CrossRefPubMed

Callaway E (2022b) What Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 variants mean for the pandemic. Nature 606(7916):848–849. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01730-yCrossRefPubMed

Cao Y, Yisimayi A, Jian F, Song W, Xiao T, Wang L, Du S, Wang J, Li Q, Chen X, Yu Y, Wang P, Zhang Z, Liu P, An R, Hao X, Wang Y, Wang J, Feng R, Sun H, Zhao L, Zhang W, Zhao D, Zheng J, Yu L, Li C, Zhang N, Wang R, Niu X, Yang S, Song X, Chai Y, Hu Y, Shi Y, Zheng L, Li Z, Gu Q, Shao F, Huang W, Jin R, Shen Z, Wang Y, Wang X, Xiao J, Xie XS (2022) BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 escape antibodies elicited by Omicron infection. Nature 608(7923):593–602. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04980-y. (Epub 2022 Jun 17)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Cele S, Jackson L, Khoury DS et al (2022) Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization. Nature 602:654–656CrossRefPubMed

Cohen C, Kleynhans J, von Gottberg A et al (2022) SARS-CoV-2 incidence, transmission, and reinfection in a rural and an urban setting: results of the PHIRST-C cohort study, South Africa, 2020–21. Lancet Infect Dis 22(6):821–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00069-XCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Conti P, Pregliasco FE, Calvisi V, Al C, Gallenga CE, Kritas SK, Ronconi G (2021) Monoclonal antibody therapy in COVID-19. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 35(2):423–427. https://doi.org/10.23812/Conti_Edit_35_2_1CrossRefPubMed

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 4 November 2022—Office for National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveyuk4november2022. Accessed 21 Nov 2022

da Rosa Mesquita R, Francelino Silva Junior LC, Santos Santana FM, Farias de Oliveira T, Campos Alcântara R, Monteiro Arnozo G, Rodrigues da Silva Filho E, Galdino Dos Santos AG, Oliveira da Cunha EJ, Salgueiro de Aquino SH, Freire de Souza CD (2021) Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in the general population: systematic review. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 133(7–8):377–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-020-01760-4. (Epub 2020 Nov 26)CrossRefPubMed

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (2023a) Country overview report: week 8 2023a. Produced on 1 March 2023a at 18.00. https://covid19-country-overviews.ecdc.europa.eu/variants_of_concern.html

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (2023b) Epidemiological update: SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron sub‐lineages BA.4 and BA.5.2022

Ferrara F, Porta R, Daiuto V, Vitiello A (2021) Remdesivir and COVID-19. Ir J Med Sci 190(3):1237–1238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02401-5. (Epub 2020 Oct 17)CrossRefPubMed

Gurung AB, Ali MA, Aljowaie RM, Almutairi SM, Sami H, Lee J (2023) Masitinib analogues with the N-methylpiperazine group replaced—a new hope for the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs. J King Saud Univ Sci 35(1):102397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102397. (Epub 2022 Oct 31)CrossRefPubMed

Hachmann NP, Miller J, Collier AY, Ventura JD, Yu J, Rowe M, Bondzie EA, Powers O, Surve N, Hall K, Barouch DH (2022) Neutralization escape by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. N Engl J Med 387(1):86–88. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2206576. (Epub 2022 Jun 22)CrossRefPubMed

Halfmann PJ et al (2022) SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus causes attenuated disease in mice and hamsters. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04441-6. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Han Q, Zheng B, Daines L, Sheikh A (2022) Long-term sequelae of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of one-year follow-up studies on post-COVID symptoms. Pathogens 11(2):269. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020269CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Hirotsu Y, Omata M (2023) Detection of the omicron BA.2.75 subvariant in Japan. J Infect 86(1):e5–e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.038CrossRefPubMed

Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S et al (2020) SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a clinically proven protease inhibitor. Cell 181(2):271–280CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/country-overviews

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-latest-updates

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Islam MR, Shahriar M, Bhuiyan MA (2022) The latest Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 lineages are frowning toward COVID-19 preventive measures: a threat to global public health. Health Sci Rep 5(6):e884. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.884CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Jorgensen SCJ, Tse CLY, Burry L, Dresser LD (2020) Baricitinib: a review of pharmacology, safety, and emerging clinical experience in COVID-19. Pharmacotherapy 40(8):843–856. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.2438. (Epub 2020 Jul 27)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Kawaoka Y, Uraki R, Kiso M, Iida S, Imai M, Takashita E, Kuroda M, Halfmann P, Loeber S, Maemura T, Yamayoshi S, Fujisaki S, Wang Z, Ito M, Ujie M, Iwatsuki-Horimoto K, Furusawa Y, Wright R, Chong Z, Ozono S, Yasuhara A, Ueki H, Sakai Y, Li R, Liu Y, Larson D, Koga M, Tsutsumi T, Adachi E, Saito M, Yamamoto S, Matsubara S, Hagihara M, Mitamura K, Sato T, Hojo M, Hattori SI, Maeda K, Okuda M, Murakami J, Duong C, Godbole S, Douek D, Watanabe S, Ohmagari N, Yotsuyanagi H, Diamond M, Hasegawa H, Mitsuya H, Suzuki T (2022) Characterization and antiviral susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron/BA.2. Res Sq [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1375091/v1. Update in: Nature. 2022 May 16

Lewnard JA, Hong VX, Patel MM, Kahn R, Lipsitch M, Tartof SY (2022) Clinical outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant and BA.1/BA.1.1 or BA.2 subvariant infection in Southern California. Nat Med 28(9):1933–1943. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01887-z. (Epub 2022 Jun 8)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Liu L, Iketani S, Guo Y et al (2022) Striking antibody evasion manifested by the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Nature 602:676–681CrossRefPubMed

Lyngse F et al (2022) Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC subvariants BA.1 and BA.2: evidence from Danish households. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.28.22270044. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Mantzourani C, Vasilakaki S, Gerogianni VE, Kokotos G (2022) The discovery and development of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitors as candidate drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. Expert Opin Drug Discov 17(3):231–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/17460441.2022.2029843. (Epub 2022 Jan 24)CrossRefPubMed

Mouffak S, Shubbar Q, Saleh E, El-Awady R (2021) Recent advances in management of COVID-19: a review. Biomed Pharmacother. 143:112107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112107. (Epub 2021 Aug 27)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Parikh S, O’Laughlin K, Ehrlich HY et al (2020) Point prevalence testing of residents for SARS-CoV-2 in a subset of Connecticut nursing homes. JAMA 324(11):1101–1103. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.14984CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Peeri NC, Shrestha N, Rahman MS, Zaki R, Tan Z, Bibi S, Baghbanzadeh M, Aghamohammadi N, Zhang W, Haque U (2020) The SARS, MERS and novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics, the newest and biggest global health threats: what lessons have we learned? Int J Epidemiol 49(3):717–726. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa033CrossRefPubMed

Petrovszki D, Walter FR, Vigh JP, Kocsis A, Valkai S, Deli MA, Dér A (2022) Penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein across the blood–brain barrier, as revealed by a combination of a human cell culture model system and optical biosensing. Biomedicines 10(1):188. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10010188CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Real-time dashboard. Coronavirus disease 2019. https://covid19.sph.hku.hk/dashboard. Accessed 5 Mar 2023

Shaheen N, Mohamed A, Soliman Y, Abdelwahab OA, Diab RA, Desouki MT, Rababah AA, Khaity A, Hefnawy MT, Swed S, Shaheen A, Elfakharany B, Shoib S (2022) Could the new BA.2.75 sub-variant lead to another COVID-19 wave in the world?—Correspondence. Int J Surg 105:106861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106861. (Epub 2022 Aug 27)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sheward DJ, Kim C, Fischbach J, Muschiol S, Ehling RA, Björkström NK et al (2022a) Evasion of neutralising antibodies by omicron sublineage BA.2.75. Lancet Infect Dis 22(10):1421–1422. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00524-2CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sheward DJ, Kim C, Fischbach J, Muschiol S, Ehling RA, Björkström NK, KarlssonHedestam GB, Reddy ST, Albert J, Peacock TP, Murrell B (2022b) Evasion of neutralising antibodies by omicron sublineage BA.2.75. Lancet Infect Dis 22(10):1421–1422. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00524-2. (Epub 2022 Sep 1)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sheward DJ, Kim C, Fischbach J, Sato K, Muschiol S, Ehling RA, Björkström NK, KarlssonHedestam GB, Reddy ST, Albert J, Peacock TP, Murrell B (2022c) Omicron sublineage BA.2.75.2 exhibits extensive escape from neutralising antibodies. Lancet Infect Dis 22(11):1538–1540. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00663-6. (Epub 2022 Oct 14)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Shuai H et al (2022) Attenuated replication and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04442-5. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Suzuki R et al (2022) Attenuated fusogenicity and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04462-1. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

Takashita E, Yamayoshi S, Simon V, van Bakel H, Sordillo EM, Pekosz A, Fukushi S, Suzuki T, Maeda K, Halfmann P, Sakai-Tagawa Y, Ito M, Watanabe S, Imai M, Hasegawa H, Kawaoka Y (2022) Efficacy of antibodies and antiviral drugs against Omicron BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants. N Engl J Med 387(5):468–470. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2207519. (Epub 2022 Jul 20)CrossRefPubMed

Times TE (2022) Omicron's new 'BA.2.75.2' variant growing quickly in India, becoming more transmissible, immune evasive: Scientists. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pune-news/omicrons-new-ba-2-75-2-variant-growing-quickly-in-india-becoming-more-transmissible-immune-evasive-scientists/articleshow/94128543.cms

Tso WWY, Kwan MYW, Wang YL, Leung LK, Leung D, Chua GT, Ip P, Fong DYT, Wong WHS, Chan SHS, Chan JFW, Peiris M, Lau YL, Rosa Duque JS (2022) Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection in unvaccinated hospitalized children: comparison to influenza and parainfluenza infections. Emerg Microbes Infect 11(1):1742–1750. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2022.2093135CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Vitiello A, Ferrara F (2021) Brief review of the mRNA vaccines COVID-19. Inflammopharmacology 29(3):645–649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-021-00811-0. (Epub 2021 May 1)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Vitiello A, Ferrara F, Troiano V, La Porta R (2021) COVID-19 vaccines and decreased transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Inflammopharmacology 29(5):1357–1360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-021-00847-2. (Epub 2021 Jul 19)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Vitiello A, Ferrara F, Auti AM, Di Domenico M, Boccellino M (2022) Advances in the Omicron variant development. J Intern Med 292(1):81–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13478. (Epub 2022 Mar 22)CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

WHO (2023a) XBB.1.5 updated risk assessment, 24 February 2023. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/22022024xbb.1.5ra.pdf

WHO (2023b) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Weekly epidemiological updates and monthly operational updates. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports. Accessed 5 Mar 2023

WHO (2023c) WHO updates COVID-19 guidelines on masks, treatments and patient care. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-01-2023-who-updates-covid-19-guidelines-on-masks--treatments-and-patient-care

Statement on the update of WHO’s working definitions and tracking system for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants of interest. Accessed 16 March 2023. https://www.who.int/news/item/16-03-2023d-statement-on-the-update-of-who-s-working-definitions-and-tracking-system-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-and-variants-of-interest

Wolter N, Jassat W, Walaza S, Welch R, Moultrie H, Groome MJ, Amoako DG, Everatt J, Bhiman JN, Scheepers C, Tebeila N, Chiwandire N, du Plessis M, Govender N, Ismail A, Glass A, Mlisana K, Stevens W, Treurnicht FK, Subramoney K, Makatini Z, Hsiao NY, Parboosing R, Wadula J, Hussey H, Davies MA, Boulle A, von Gottberg A, Cohen C (2022) Clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 lineages compared to BA.1 and Delta in South Africa. Nat Commun 13(1):5860. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33614-0CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zappa M, Verdecchia P, Angeli F (2022) Knowing the new Omicron BA.2.75 variant (‘Centaurus’): a simulation study. Eur J Intern Med 105:107–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2022.08.009CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zhu Z, Lian X, Su X, Wu W, Marraro GA, Zeng Y (2020) From SARS and MERS to COVID-19: a brief summary and comparison of severe acute respiratory infections caused by three highly pathogenic human coronaviruses. Respir Res 21(1):224. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-020-01479-wCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Omicron variant evolution on vaccines and monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Michela Sabbatucci
Antonio Vitiello
Salvatore Clemente
Andrea Zovi
Mariarosaria Boccellino
Francesco Ferrara
Carla Cimmino
Roberto Langella
Annarita Ponzo
Paola Stefanelli
Giovanni Rezza
Publication date: 19-05-2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Published in: Inflammopharmacology / Issue 4/2023
Print ISSN: 0925-4692
Electronic ISSN: 1568-5608
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-023-01253-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Omicron variant evolution on vaccines and monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2023

The anti-inflammatory effects of minocycline on lipopolysaccharide-induced paw oedema in rats: a histopathological and molecular study

Feeding crocin ameliorate cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress in rats

Diosmetin alleviates acute lung injury caused by lipopolysaccharide by targeting barrier function

Immunomodulatory effects of umbilical mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on CD4+ T cells in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

Mechanism of action of quercetin in rheumatoid arthritis models: meta-analysis and systematic review of animal studies

UHPLC–MS and GC–MS phytochemical profiling, amelioration of pain and inflammation with chloroform extract of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. via modulation of inflammatory biomarkers