WHO consultation on COVID-19 vaccines research
What recent evidence do we have that omicron is evading immunity and what are the implications?
Date: 14 February, 2022
Time: 13:00 to 17:15 CET
In continuation to the scientific discussions on COVID-19 vaccines research, WHO R&D Blueprint organized a follow-up consultation to review emerging data related to the omicron variant. During this forthcoming consultation global experts reviewed the available evidence, critically appraised the data, and summarized the interpretation of evidence and next steps.
PRESENTERS/PANEL MEMBERS
Invited experts included:
- Leading researchers on COVID-19 neutralization studies
- Global experts on evidence synthesis and critical appraisal of evidence
PRESENTATIONS
Introduction and meeting objectives:
Session 1. Immunological studies
- Global Review of Neutralisation Assays against Omicron
- At Least Three Doses of Leading Vaccines Essential for Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant
- Activity of convalescent and vaccine serum against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.1.1
- Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 imposes a new challenge for the global public health
- Neutralization profile of Omicron variant convalescent individuals
- Fourth dose COVID mRNA vaccines’ Immunogenicity & Efficacy Against Omicron variant of concern
- Comparison of 50% plaque reduction neutralization antibody titres with ancestral virus, Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 in BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccine cohorts
- Non-neutralizing Fc-effector function is preserved against Omicron
- T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike cross-recognize Omicron
- SARS-CoV-2 vaccination induces immunological memory able to cross-recognize variants Alpha to Omicron
- Reduced Omicron virus replication in interferon-competent cells and high Omicron sensitivity to interferon
Session 2. Animal studies
- Infection and cross-protection with Omicron in K18-hACE2 mice
- Altered pathogenicity, transmissibility, and fitness of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant in the golden Syrian hamster model
- Convalescence from prototype SARS-CoV-2 protects Syrian hamsters from disease caused by the Omicron variant
- Moderna mRNA vaccine-mediated protection in mice against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants
- Replicating RNA platform enables rapid response to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and elicits enhanced protection in naïve hamsters compared to ancestral vaccine
- Vaccine Protection Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Macaques
- SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-B.1.1.529 Variant leads to less severe disease than Pango B and Delta variants strains in a mouse model of severe COVID-19
- Updates on Omicron
Overall conclusions, knowledge gaps and research priorities
WHO TOOLS AND RESOURCES
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant assays and animal models study tracker https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/repository-of-omicron-biological-materials-for-in-vitro-and-in-vivo-studies
Assays & Animal Models – Outline of research priorities related to the Omicron variant https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/assays-animal-models—outline-of-research-priorities-related-to-the-omicron-variant
Recordings, Presentations, and Meeting Reports:
