Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 clinical isolates

Kawaoka, Yoshihiro; Uraki, Ryuta; Halfmann, Peter; Iida, Shun; Yamayoshi, Seiya; Furusawa, Yuri; Kiso, Maki; Ito, Mutsumi; Iwatsuki‐Horimoto, Kiyoko; Mine, Sohtaro; Kuroda, Makoto; Maemura, Tadashi; Sakai, Yuko; Ueki, Hiroshi; Li, Rong; Liu, Yanan; Larson, Deanna; Fukushi, Shuetsu; Watanabe, Shinji; Maeda, Ken; Pekosz, Andrew; Kandeil, Ahmed; Webby, Richard J.; Wang, Zhongde; Imai, Masaki; Suzuki, Tadaki

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1820048/v1

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

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Characterization of Omicron BA.4.6, XBB, and BQ.1.1 subvariants in hamsters

Halfmann,

Iwatsuki-Horimoto,

Kuroda

et al. 2024

Commun Biol

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During the Omicron wave, previous variants such as BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 were replaced by newer variants with additional mutations in the spike protein. These variants, BA.4.6, BQ.1.1, and XBB, have spread in different countries with different degrees of success. Here, we evaluated the replicative ability and pathogenicity of BA.4.6, BQ1.1, and XBB clinical isolates in male Syrian hamsters. Although we found no substantial differences in weight change among hamsters infected with these Omicron subvariants, the replicative ability of BQ.1.1 and XBB in lung tissue was higher than that of BA.4.6 and BA.5. Of note, BQ.1.1 was lethal in both male and female transgenic human ACE2 hamsters. In competition assays, XBB replicated better than BQ.1.1 in the nasal turbinate tissues of female hamsters previously infected with Omicron BA.2. These results suggest that newer Omicron subvariants in the XBB family are still evolving and should be closely monitored.

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Characterization of Omicron BA.4.6, XBB, and BQ.1.1 subvariants in hamsters

Halfmann,

Iwatsuki-Horimoto,

Kuroda

et al. 2024

Commun Biol

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SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 vaccine breakthrough risk and severity compared with BA.2: a case-case and cohort study using Electronic Health Records in Portugal

Kislaya

Casaca

Borges

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background In a context of multiple Omicron lineages circulation, it is relevant to clarify the effect of vaccination and previous infections on the risk of infection and severe post-infection outcomes. Methods Using electronic health records and SARS-CoV-2 laboratory surveillance data, we conducted a case-case and a cohort study covering the period of Omicron BA.2/BA.5 lineage replacement in Portugal, to compare vaccine effectiveness of complete primary and booster dose against infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and mortality. Variant classification was performed through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) or Spike Gene Target Failure (SGTF). Findings Between April 25 and June 10, 2022, within a total of 27702 collected samples, 55.5% were classified as BA.2 and the remaining as BA.5. We observed no evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness for the primary complete vaccination (OR=1.07, CI95%:0.93-1.23) or booster dose vaccination (OR=0.96, CI95%:0.84-1.09) against BA.5 infection compared with BA.2. The protection against reinfection was inferior in BA.5 cases when compared with BA.2 (OR=1.44; CI95%:1.30-1.60). Among those infected with BA.5, booster vaccination was associated with 77% and 88% of reduction in risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death, respectively, while higher risk reduction was found for BA.2 cases, with 93% and 94%, respectively. Interpretation This study shows that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 lineage is associated with higher odds of reinfection compared with Omicron BA.2, regardless of the vaccination status. Although less effective compared with BA.2, COVID-19 booster vaccination still offers substantial protection against severe outcomes following BA.5 infection.

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Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 clinical isolates

Uraki

Iida

Halfmann

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The prevalence of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 is rapidly increasing in India and Nepal. In addition, BA.2.75 has been detected in at least 34 other countries and is spreading globally. However, the virological features of BA.2.75 are largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the replicative ability and pathogenicity of BA.2.75 clinical isolates in Syrian hamsters. Although we found no substantial differences in weight change among hamsters infected with BA.2, BA.5, or BA.2.75, the replicative ability of BA.2.75 in the lungs was higher than that of BA.2 and BA.5. Of note, BA.2.75 caused focal viral pneumonia in hamsters, characterized by patchy inflammation interspersed in alveolar regions, which was not observed in BA.5-infected hamsters. Moreover, in competition assays, BA.2.75 replicated better than BA.5 in the lungs of hamsters. These results suggest that BA.2.75 can cause more severe respiratory disease than BA.5 and BA.2 and should be closely monitored.

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Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 clinical isolates

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

Characterization of Omicron BA.4.6, XBB, and BQ.1.1 subvariants in hamsters

Characterization of Omicron BA.4.6, XBB, and BQ.1.1 subvariants in hamsters

SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 vaccine breakthrough risk and severity compared with BA.2: a case-case and cohort study using Electronic Health Records in Portugal

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 clinical isolates

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