Host cell entry and neutralisation sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2
Lu Zhang, Amy Kempf, Inga Nehlmeier, Nianzhen Chen, Metodi V. Stankov, Christine Happle, Alexandra Dopfer‐Jablonka, Georg M. N. Behrens, Sebastian Schulz, Hans‐Martin Jäck, Stefan Pöhlmann, Markus Hoffmann
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing endemic have been characterised by the continuous emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants, each showing augmented antibody evasion due to mutations in the viral spike (S) protein. These new variants usually harbour a few S protein mutations, conferring a modest growth advantage within the population. However, a quantum leap of SARS-CoV-2 evolution was observed on two occasions. The first occurred at the end of 2021, when the highly mutated omicron variant (B.1.1.529) became dominant, showing unprecedented antibody evasion.