articleNature CommunicationsMar 13, 2024GOLD OA

Distinct evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB and BA.2.86/JN.1 lineages combining increased fitness and antibody evasion

DPDelphine PlanasISIsabelle StaropoliVMVincent MichelFLFrédéric LemoineFDFlora Donati

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut Pasteur · +13 more institutions

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

The unceasing circulation of SARS-CoV-2 leads to the continuous emergence of novel viral sublineages. Here, we isolate and characterize XBB.1, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16.1, EG.5.1.1, EG.5.1.3, XBF, BA.2.86.1 and JN.1 variants, representing >80% of circulating variants in January 2024. The XBB subvariants carry few but recurrent mutations in the spike, whereas BA.2.86.1 and JN.1 harbor >30 additional changes. These variants replicate in IGROV-1 but no longer in Vero E6 and are not markedly fusogenic. They potently infect nasal epithelial cells, with EG.5.1.3 exhibiting the highest fitness. Antivirals remain active. Neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses from vaccinees and BA.1/BA.2-infected individuals are…

Citation impact

238
total citations
FWCI
83.58
Percentile
100%
References
76
Citations per year

Authors

25

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Antibody
  • Biology
  • Vero cell
  • Neutralizing antibody
  • Immune escape
  • Virology
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
No related works found for this paper.

Funding