Comparison of 10 emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants: infectivity, animal tropism, and antibody neutralization

Abstract Ten emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants—B.1.1.298, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, P.2, B.1.429, B.1.525, B.1.526-1, B.1.526-2, B.1.1.318—and seven corresponding single amino acid mutations in the receptor-binding domain were examined using SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. The results indicate that the current SARS-CoV-2 variants do not increase infectivity among humans. The K417N/T, N501Y, or E484K-carrying variants exhibited increased abilities to infect to mouse ACE2-overexpressing cells. The activities of Furin, TMPRSS2, and cathepsin L were increased against most of the variants. RBD amino acid mutations comprising K417T/N, L452R, Y453F, S477N, E484K, and N501Y caused significant immune escape from 11 of 13 monoclonal antibodies. However, the resistance to neutralization by convalescent serum or vaccines was mainly caused by the E484K mutation, while the neutralization of E484K-carrying variants was decreased by 1.1–6.2-fold. The convalescent serum from B.1.1.7- and B.1.351-infected patients neutralized the variants themselves better than other SARS-CoV-2 variants.