Figure 2 - Spike protein structure showing key B.1.617.2 mutations

Vaccines are effective in decreasing hospitalisation and deaths from COVID-19 infection but the emergence of viral variants of concern may diminish their efficacy, according to a new study by Centre for Virus Research scientists.

The study – published in PLOS Pathogens, by Professor Emma Thomson, Professor Brian Willett, and colleagues at the CVR – suggests that COVID-19 Delta variant may be more successful at evading the protective response of vaccines.

Mutations change the shape of the COVID-19 spike protein, preventing antibody recognition and enabling the virus to escape vaccine-induced immunity; however, the extent to which vaccine recipients are immune from the Delta variant is unknown.

To quantify the capacity of different variants (Alpha, Beta and Delta) to evade protective immune response in vaccines, researchers analyzed serum samples collected from healthy people who had received either the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca vaccine. 156 people had received two doses and 50 people had received one dose.

They exposed SARS-CoV-2 proteins in a virus model system to sera from vaccinated people and observed the antibody response, measuring how effectively antibodies prevented each variant from infecting cells (virus neutralization).

The researchers found that vaccines conferred protection from all COVID-19 variants but noted reduced antibody neutralization of both the Beta and Delta variants. Across all vaccinated individuals, the Delta variant reduced the immune response in recipients of both the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccine 4.31 and 5.11-fold respectively.

The study was not designed to measure vaccine efficacy directly, although it was in keeping with recent findings from Public Health England of slightly lower vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant than previous variants. It also did not report on serological study of people who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

According to the authors “While vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe infection and death, ongoing monitoring of neutralization against new variants alongside studies of vaccine effectiveness are indicated as the virus continues to evolve over time, especially in vulnerable groups.

"Booster vaccines reduce the chance of being infected with currently circulating new variants. Newer updated vaccine designs are also likely to be required in time to prevent productive infection with newer variants of the virus.”

Reduced neutralisation of the Delta (B.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern following vaccination

Image legend: Figure 2 - Spike protein structure showing key B.1.617.2 mutations 

(B). Surface representation of spike homotrimer in open conformation with one upright RBD overlaid with ribbon representation (RCSB Protein Data Bank ID 6ZGG [26], with different monomers shown in black, pale blue and gold. Residues involved in B.1.617.2 lineage defining substitutions or deletions are shown as red spheres on each of the three monomers and are labelled on the monomer with an upright RBD, shown in black. Scissors mark the approximate location of an exposed loop (residues 677–688), containing the furin cleavage site, and including residue 681, which is absent from the structure. 

Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 6557 or 0141 330 4831

First published: 8 December 2021

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