SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility compared between variants of concern and vaccination status

Article Infectious Diseases

Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors for susceptibility and infectivity in Wuhan: a retrospective observational study

Fang Li et al.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant by convalescent and vaccine sera

Piyada Supasa et al.

Summary: Research on the UK-dominant variant B.1.1.7 shows that it is harder to neutralize than the parental virus, but widespread escape from antibodies or monoclonal antibodies has not been observed yet.

CELL (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Evidence of escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 from natural and vaccine-induced sera

Daming Zhou et al.

Summary: The race to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1, is ongoing as these variants have mutations in the spike protein, potentially leading to immune escape. A structure-function analysis of B.1.351 revealed tighter ACE2 binding and widespread evasion from monoclonal antibody neutralization, particularly driven by the E484K mutation.

CELL (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England

Nicholas G. Davies et al.

Summary: A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged in England, with a higher reproduction number and potential for large resurgences of COVID-19 cases. Without stringent control measures, it is projected that COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in England for the first 6 months of 2021 will exceed those in 2020. The variant has spread globally and exhibited similar transmission increases in Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States.

SCIENCE (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.351 and P.1 escape from neutralizing antibodies

Markus Hoffmann et al.

Summary: The emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants may exhibit resistance to existing neutralizing antibodies and treatments, which could have significant implications for pandemic containment efforts.

CELL (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Assessing transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England

Erik Volz et al.

Summary: Genetic and testing data from England indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 has a transmission advantage over other lineages, showing a rapid expansion during autumn 2020. Analysis of S gene target failures (SGTF) in community-based diagnostic PCR testing suggests that B.1.1.7 is more transmissible than non-variant of concern lineages and has a significant transmission advantage, with a reproduction number 50% to 100% higher. Additionally, cases of B.1.1.7 appear to include a larger share of under 20-year-olds compared to non-variant cases.

NATURE (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 Variants

Laith J. Abu-Raddad et al.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Vaccine Breakthrough Infections with SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Ezgi Hacisuleyman et al.

Summary: Despite evidence of vaccine efficacy, two fully vaccinated individuals developed mild symptoms of Covid-19 and were infected with variants of SARS-CoV-2. Sequencing of the virus isolates revealed novel mutations, highlighting the potential risk of illness post-vaccination and subsequent infection with variant virus. Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and characterize variants in vaccinated individuals are crucial.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Genomics and epidemiology of the P.1 SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus, Brazil

Nuno R. Faria et al.

Summary: A new variant of concern, P.1, with 17 mutations including three spike protein mutations associated with increased binding to human ACE2 receptors, emerged in Manaus, Brazil between November 2020 and January 2021. Molecular analysis suggests P.1 may be 1.7- to 2.4-fold more transmissible and that previous infection may provide 54 to 79% protection against P.1 infection compared to other lineages. Enhanced global genomic surveillance of such variants is crucial for pandemic response.

SCIENCE (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 by vaccine and convalescent serum

Chang Liu et al.

Summary: Recent study examined the neutralizing ability of monoclonal antibodies, convalescent and vaccine sera against the Indian variants B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, showing that the neutralization of these variants is reduced compared to the ancestral strains, without widespread antibody escape as seen in other variants like B.1.351.

CELL (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Neutralising antibody activity against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs B.1.617.2 and B.1.351 by BNT162b2 vaccination

Emma C. Wall et al.

LANCET (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Evidence for increased breakthrough rates of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in BNT162b2-mRNA-vaccinated individuals

Talia Kustin et al.

Summary: Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections post-vaccination may be caused by B.1.1.7 or B.1.351 variants, indicating the importance of robust vaccination. Reduced vaccine effectiveness against these variants was observed in the study, highlighting the need for continued surveillance and enhanced vaccination efforts.

NATURE MEDICINE (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Effect of Vaccination on Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in England

Ross J. Harris et al.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Prison after Vaccination

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein et al.

Summary: A study in a Rhode Island prison complex with 2380 vaccinated persons found 27 breakthrough cases of Covid-19, all of which were asymptomatic. It suggests that vaccination is safe and effective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a prison setting.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Letter Medicine, General & Internal