BA.2 evasion of vaccine induced binding and functional non-neutralizing antibodies

Abstract

AbstractThe number of mutations in the omicron (B1.1.529) BA.1 variant of concern (VOC) led to an unprecedented evasion of vaccine induced immunity. However, despite the remarkable rise in global infections, severe disease and death did not increase proportionally, linked to persistent recognition of BA.1 by T cells and non-neutralizing opsonophagocytic antibodies. Yet, the emergence of a new sublineage, BA.2, that is more transmissible compared to BA.1, despite relatively preserved neutralizing antibody responses, has raised the possibility that BA.2 may evade other vaccine induced responses that may be key to protection against infection and disease. Here we comprehensively profiled the BNT162b2 vaccine induced response to several VOCs including the omicron BA.1 and BA.2, after the primary vaccine series, 8 months following vaccination, and after a boost. While vaccine induced immune responses were compromised against both Omicron sublineages, vaccine induced antibody isotype titers, FcγR3a- and FcγR3b-receptor binding levels, and non-neutralizing opsonophagocytic functions were significantly attenuated to the omicron BA.2 Spike compared to the BA.1 lineage. Conversely, FcγR2a and FcγR2b binding was elevated to BA.2 potentially contributing to persistent protection against severity of disease. These data point to an attenuation of particular non-neutralizing antibody properties that may be key to protection against transmission, but the maintenance of others that may continue to confer protection against disease.