The EG.5.1 iteration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus exhibits a heightened capacity to elude neutralizing antibodies when compared to its contemporaneous counterparts. This affords it a distinct advantage in infecting individuals who have undergone vaccination or have previously encountered the virus, as reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.
Nevertheless, the researchers uncovered that this augmentation in the virus’s capacity to evade antibodies is of a moderate nature, and by no means of a magnitude that would entirely subvert the immunity acquired through hybrid immunity.
A research consortium, inclusive of scholars from the German Primate Center in Gottingen, Germany, meticulously scrutinized the attributes of the Eris sublineage, EG.5.1.
Their investigation ascertained that EG.5.1 does not exhibit greater infectivity in comparison to its predecessors, signifying its inability to penetrate host cells more efficiently.
Nevertheless, EG.5.1 showcases a superior ability to evade the immune response when juxtaposed with other presently circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages. This distinctive trait positions it favorably in the context of infecting individuals whose immune systems have generated neutralizing antibodies subsequent to vaccination or infection, according to the researchers.
A component of our immune defense hinges on neutralizing antibodies produced by the immune system’s cells following vaccination or infection.
These antibodies firmly bind to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, thereby thwarting the virus’s ability to infiltrate our cells.
This mechanism is commonly referred to as neutralization.
Since May of this year, EG.5, along with its descendant, EG.5.1, has witnessed a surge in prevalence across numerous countries. This lineage, classified as a ‘Variant of Interest’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), is also colloquially known as Eris.
The study furnishes compelling evidence suggesting that the heightened ability to evade antibodies underpins the augmented dissemination of Eris.
Lu Zhang, the principal author of the study, elucidated, “We observed that, relative to other presently circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages, EG.5.1 does not possess a discernible edge in infecting host cells.”
“However,” Zhang continued, “further inquiries unveiled that EG.5.1 is less susceptible to neutralization by antibodies present in the bloodstream of individuals who have been vaccinated or have undergone vaccination and subsequent infection.”
To ensure safety, the experiments were conducted employing laboratory-produced viruses, referred to as pseudoviruses.
“In summation, our findings propose that the proliferation of EG.5 and its sublineages hinges primarily on its ability to evade antibodies rather than an elevated capacity to infect host cells,” asserted Markus Hoffmann, the chief scientist behind the study.
Hoffmann added, “Nonetheless, the augmentation in antibody evasion capability remains somewhat modest and by no means sufficient to entirely undermine the immunity established through vaccination or prior infection.”