How resistant is XBB.1.5 to antibodies from vaccines and infections?

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XBB.1.5 Shows Significant Resistance to Existing Antibodies

The Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 demonstrates a marked resistance to antibodies generated by both vaccination and prior infections, a characteristic that contributes to its rapid spread. Studies indicate that XBB.1, a close predecessor to XBB.1.5, is substantially less susceptible to neutralization by existing antibodies compared to earlier subvariants. This enhanced immune evasion is primarily attributed to specific mutations within the virus's spike protein.
Reduced Neutralisation Compared to Earlier Subvariants

Research has quantified the extent of this antibody resistance. One study published in Cell revealed that XBB.1 is approximately 63 times less effectively neutralised by current antibodies when compared to the BA.2 subvariant. Furthermore, XBB.1 exhibits about 49 times greater resistance than the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which have previously been dominant strains in various regions.
Similar Resistance Profile to XBB.1

While XBB.1.5 possesses an additional mutation in its spike protein compared to XBB.1, preliminary research suggests its antibody resistance profile remains largely similar to its predecessor. The spike protein acts as the key for the virus to enter host cells, and alterations in this structure can significantly impact how effectively antibodies, whether from vaccines or past infections, can bind to and neutralise the virus.
Bivalent Vaccines Show Improved Efficacy

Despite the overall resistance, newer bivalent vaccines designed to target the BA.5 subvariant appear to offer a more robust antibody response against XBB.1.5 than earlier vaccine formulations. This is because the spike protein of the BA.5 bivalent vaccine shares greater resemblance with that of XBB.1.5 than with the ancestral Wuhan strain used in initial vaccines, thereby enhancing its neutralising capability.

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How resistant is XBB.1.5 to antibodies from vaccines and infections?

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