New omicron sublineages show an ability to evade antibodies from earlier infection and vaccination, a South African laboratory study has found.<\/p>\n
The findings could signal a fresh wave of infections by the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the omicron variant that were discovered this month in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Blood samples from people who had been infected with the original omicron variant saw an almost eightfold drop in neutralizing antibody production when tested against the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages, the study, led by the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, showed.<\/p>\n
Samples from people who were vaccinated showed about a threefold decrease, according to the study.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe low absolute neutralization levels for BA.4 and BA.5, particularly in the unvaccinated group, are unlikely to protect well against symptomatic infection,\u201d the researchers said in the study, which is yet to be peer reviewed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis may indicate that, based on neutralization escape, BA.4 and BA.5 have potential to result in a new infection wave.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results of the study come amid a fresh surge of infections in South Africa, which was the first country to experience a wave of cases caused by omicron after the variant was first identified in the country and neighboring Botswana.<\/p>\n
On Saturday South Africa recorded 6,527 new cases and a test positivity rate of 21.5%. That compares with 581 cases and a positivity rate of 4.5% on March 28.<\/p>\n
\nWe measured immunity against the #Omicron<\/a> BA.4 and BA.5 variants by people infected with the original (BA.1) Omicron sub-lineage. Results consistent with these variants forming next infection wave.<\/p>\n
Manuscript submitted to medRxiv and available here:https:\/\/t.co\/rGaEB9GdmS<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Alex Sigal (@sigallab) April 29, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n