Low Neutralizing Activities to theOmicron Subvariants BN.1 and XBB.1.5 of Sera From the Individuals Vaccinated With a BA.4/5-Containing Bivalent mRNA Vaccine
- Author:
Eliel NHAM
1
;
Jineui KIM
;
Jungmin LEE
;
Heedo PARK
;
Jeonghun KIM
;
Sohyun LEE
;
Jaeuk CHOI
;
Kyung Taek KIM
;
Jin Gu YOON
;
Soon Young H HWANG
;
Joon Young SONG
;
Hee Jin CHEONG
;
Woo Joo KIM
;
Man-Seong PARK
;
Ji Yun NOH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Immune Network 2023;23(6):e43-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The continuous emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has provided insights for updating current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. We examined the neutralizing activity of Abs induced by a BA.4/5-containing bivalent mRNA vaccine against Omicron subvariants BN.1 and XBB.1.5. We recruited 40 individuals who had received a monovalent COVID-19 booster dose after a primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations and will be vaccinated with a BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccine. Sera were collected before vaccination, one month after, and three months after a bivalent booster.Neutralizing Ab (nAb) titers were measured against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.5, BN.1, and XBB.1.5. BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccination significantly boosted nAb levels against both ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants. Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection had higher nAb titers against all examined strains than the infection-naïve group. NAb titers against BN.1 and XBB.1.5 were lower than those against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and BA.5 strains. These results suggest that COVID-19 vaccinations specifically targeting emerging Omicron subvariants, such as XBB.1.5, may be required to ensure better protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in high-risk groups.
