Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences

Hoteit, Reem; Yassine, Hadi M.

doi:10.3390/vaccines10060919

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 471 publications

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“…However, it is possible to qualitatively identify that there is an increase in the spread from the wt to the latest Omicron variant based on heuristic observations. Hoteit and Yassine compiled the available data and showed the following order in the tendencies for SARS-CoV-2 spread: 124 wt, Alpha, Gamma, Beta (small differences among them), Delta, and Omicron/ BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/BA.5. Considering this observed experimental trend that reveals that the virus transmissibility is constantly increasing for the new variants, there seems to be a direct relation between transmissibility and the RBD-ACE2 binding affinity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrostatic Features for the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-COV-2 Wildtype and Its Variants. Compass to the Severity of the Future Variants with the Charge-Rule

2022

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Electrostatic intermolecular interactions are important in many aspects of biology. We have studied the main electrostatic features involved in the interaction of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human receptor Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As the principal computational tool, we have used the FORTE approach, capable to model proton fluctuations and computing free energies for a very large number of protein–protein systems under different physical–chemical conditions, here focusing on the RBD-ACE2 interactions. Both the wild-type and all critical variants are included in this study. From our large ensemble of extensive simulations, we obtain, as a function of pH, the binding affinities, charges of the proteins, their charge regulation capacities, and their dipole moments. In addition, we have calculated the pK a s for all ionizable residues and mapped the electrostatic coupling between them. We are able to present a simple predictor for the RBD-ACE2 binding based on the data obtained for Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants, as a linear correlation between the total charge of the RBD and the corresponding binding affinity. This “RBD charge rule” should work as a quick test of the degree of severity of the coming SARS-CoV-2 variants in the future.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrostatic Features for the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-COV-2 Wildtype and Its Variants. Compass to the Severity of the Future Variants with the Charge-Rule

2022

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“…Thus, with the Delta variant (R0 = 7.5–9.5) and Lambda variant (R0 ≈ 10), it would be necessary to immunize more than 80–90% of the world population [ 9 , 10 ]. For the BA.1 omicron variant (R0 ≥ 9.5), BA.2 omicron variant (R0 ≥ 13.3) and BA.4/BA.5 (R0 ≥ 18) [ 7 ], the threshold for herd immunity against the omicron variable at 95% of the population [ 11 ]. However, these immunization thresholds ≥80% of the population are considered “unattainable” by vaccination [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Comirnaty® Vaccine and Correlates of Immunogenicity and Adverse Reactions: A Single-Center Prospective Case Series Study

et al. 2022

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The literature suggests that real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of the BNT162b2 vaccine depend on the characteristics of the vaccinated volunteers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibody responses and kinetics, established association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and adverse reactions after complete vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine. A single-center prospective case series study was conducted with 112 eligible volunteers who were institutionalized elderly and health care workers with had a negative anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test prior to receiving the first dose of vaccine. At least one serological antibody test after each dose of vaccine was performed. Volunteers with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test before vaccination were excluded. A chemiluminescent immunoassay anti-S1 antibody assay performed a serological evaluation. Both vaccine doses elicited positive IgG antibodies 3799.0 ± 2503.0 AU/mL and 8212.0 ± 4731.0 AU/mL after 20 days of the first and second doses of BNT162b2, respectively. Comirnaty® vaccine induced an immune response with antibody production against SARS-CoV-2 in 100% of participants, regardless of age (Spearman rho = −0.10, p-value = 0.312), body mass index (Spearman rho = 0.05, p-value = 0.640), blood group first dose (p-value for Kruskal–Wallis test = 0.093) and second dose (p-value for Kruskal–Wallis test = 0. 268), number of drugs (Spearman rho = −0.07, p-value = 0.490), and number of chronic diseases first dose (p-value for Kruskal–Wallis test = 0.632) and second dose (p-value for Kruskal–Wallis test = 0.510). IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were intensely elevated after the second administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine. The higher the titer of anti-peptide IgG antibodies generated after the first dose of vaccine, the higher the titer generated by the second dose of vaccine (Spearman rho = 0.86, p-value < 0.001) and the total antibody titer (Spearman rho = 0.93, p-value < 0.001). Furthermore, no serious adverse effects were reported among participants, although mild to moderate adverse effects (local or systemic) were reported after both doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, being more frequent after the first dose of the vaccine. No participants showed a positive PCR. The BNT162b2 vaccine induces a robust and rapid antibody response regardless of participant characteristics. The second dose might be especially important because of the increased immunogenicity it produces and the possible temporal distancing of the interval between doses. In general, the vaccines were well tolerated.

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“…There is a number of researches studying efficacy against the last two variants of concern—Delta and Omicron. The assessment of particular vaccines’ efficacy is difficult because the new SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging in the situation when populations are predominantly vaccinated or convalescents [ 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 ].…”

Section: Immune Response To Sars-cov-2 Vaccinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunity after COVID-19 Recovery and Vaccination: Similarities and Differences

et al. 2022

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is associated with a robust immune response. The development of systemic inflammation leads to a hyperinflammatory state due to cytokine release syndrome during severe COVID-19. The emergence of many new SARS-CoV-2 variants across the world deteriorates the protective antiviral immunity induced after infection or vaccination. The innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for determining the fate of COVID-19 symptomatology. T cell-mediated immunity is the main factor of the antiviral immune response; moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection initiates a rapid B-cell response. In this paper, we present the current state of knowledge on immunity after COVID-19 infection and vaccination. We discuss the mechanisms of immune response to various types of vaccines (nucleoside-modified, adenovirus-vectored, inactivated virus vaccines and recombinant protein adjuvanted formulations). This includes specific aspects of vaccination in selected patient populations with altered immune activity (the elderly, children, pregnant women, solid organ transplant recipients, patients with systemic rheumatic diseases or malignancies). We also present diagnostic and research tools available to study the anti-SARS-CoV-2 cellular and humoral immune responses.

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Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences

Cited by 28 publications

References 471 publications

Electrostatic Features for the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-COV-2 Wildtype and Its Variants. Compass to the Severity of the Future Variants with the Charge-Rule

Electrostatic Features for the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-COV-2 Wildtype and Its Variants. Compass to the Severity of the Future Variants with the Charge-Rule

Effectiveness of Comirnaty® Vaccine and Correlates of Immunogenicity and Adverse Reactions: A Single-Center Prospective Case Series Study

Immunity after COVID-19 Recovery and Vaccination: Similarities and Differences

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