PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Anna Z. Mykytyn
AU  - Melanie Rissmann
AU  - Adinda Kok
AU  - Miruna E. Rosu
AU  - Debby Schipper
AU  - Tim I. Breugem
AU  - Petra B. van den Doel
AU  - Felicity Chandler
AU  - Theo Bestebroer
AU  - Maurice de Wit
AU  - Martin E. van Royen
AU  - Richard Molenkamp
AU  - Bas B. Oude Munnink
AU  - Rory D. de Vries
AU  - Corine GeurtsvanKessel
AU  - Derek J. Smith
AU  - Marion P. G. Koopmans
AU  - Barry Rockx
AU  - Mart M. Lamers
AU  - Ron Fouchier
AU  - Bart L. Haagmans
TI  - Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 are antigenically distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants
AID  - 10.1101/2022.02.23.481644
DP  - 2022 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2022.02.23.481644
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/02/24/2022.02.23.481644.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/02/24/2022.02.23.481644.full
AB  - The emergence and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants may impact vaccine efficacy significantly1. The Omicron variant termed BA.2, which differs genetically substantially from BA.1, is currently replacing BA.1 in several countries, but its antigenic characteristics have not yet been assessed2,3. Here, we used antigenic cartography to quantify and visualize antigenic differences between SARS-CoV-2 variants using hamster sera obtained after primary infection. Whereas early variants are antigenically similar, clustering relatively close to each other in antigenic space, Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 have evolved as two distinct antigenic outliers. Our data show that BA.1 and BA.2 both escape (vaccine-induced) antibody responses as a result of different antigenic characteristics. Close monitoring of the antigenic changes of SARS-CoV-2 using antigenic cartography can be helpful in the selection of future vaccine strains.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.