Abstract
Rapidly spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have arisen in the United Kingdom and South Africa share the spike N501Y substitution, which is of particular concern because it is located in the viral receptor binding site for cell entry and increases binding to the receptor (angiotensin converting enzyme 2). We generated isogenic N501 and Y501 SARS-CoV-2. Sera of 20 participants in a previously reported trial of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 had equivalent neutralizing titers to the N501 and Y501 viruses.
Competing Interest Statement
X.X., V.D.M., and P.-Y.S. have filed a patent on the reverse genetic system. K.A.S., M.C., D.C., and P.R.D. are employees of Pfizer and may hold stock options. X.P., J.Z., C.R.F.G., H.X., and P.-Y.S. received compensation from Pfizer to perform the neutralization assay.
