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Neutralisation Hierarchy of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Using Standardised, Quantitative Neutralisation Assays Reveals a Correlation With Disease Severity; Towards Deciphering Protective Antibody Thresholds

Cantoni, Diego, Mayora-Neto, Martin, Nadesalingam, Angalee, Wells, David A., Carnell, George W., Ohlendorf, Luis, Ferrari, Matteo, Palmer, Phil, Chan, Andrew C.Y., Smith, Peter, and others. (2022) Neutralisation Hierarchy of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Using Standardised, Quantitative Neutralisation Assays Reveals a Correlation With Disease Severity; Towards Deciphering Protective Antibody Thresholds. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 . Article Number 773982. ISSN 1664-3224. (doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.773982) (KAR id:93512)

Abstract

The rise of SARS-CoV-2 variants has made the pursuit to define correlates of protection more troublesome, despite the availability of the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin sera, a key reagent used to standardise laboratory findings into an international unitage. Using pseudotyped virus, we examine the capacity of convalescent sera, from a well-defined cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) and Patients infected during the first wave from a national critical care centre in the UK to neutralise B.1.1.298, variants of interest (VOI) B.1.617.1 (Kappa), and four VOCs, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma) and B.1.617.2 (Delta), including the B.1.617.2 K417N, informally known as Delta Plus. We utilised the WHO International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin to report neutralisation antibody levels in International Units per mL. Our data demonstrate a significant reduction in the ability of first wave convalescent sera to neutralise the VOCs. Patients and HCWs with more severe COVID-19 were found to have higher antibody titres and to neutralise the VOCs more effectively than individuals with milder symptoms. Using an estimated threshold for 50% protection, 54 IU/mL, we found most asymptomatic and mild cases did not produce titres above this threshold.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.773982
Uncontrolled keywords: COVID-19, variants of concern, correlates of protection (CoP), international standard, disease severity, 20/136, IU/mL
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Medway School of Pharmacy
Depositing User: Nigel Temperton
Date Deposited: 08 Mar 2022 20:01 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2022 12:32 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93512 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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