SARS-CoV-2 variants from mink evade inhibition by antibodies

It has been known for about a year that minks can become infected with SARS-CoV-2. The virus had been transmitted from humans to farmed mink and mutated in infected animals. Mutations were acquired in the spike protein, which is crucial for the entry of the virus into host cells and represents the central point of attack for antibodies. These SARS-CoV-2 variants from mink were transmitted back to humans, raising concerns that minks could be a continuing source of infection of humans with SARS-CoV-2 variants with altered biological properties. Researchers at the German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, Germany, have now shown that an antibody used for COVID-19 therapy is unable to effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 harboring a spike mutation acquired in minks. In addition, the mutation reduced the inhibition of the virus by antibodies produced in SARS-CoV-2 infected humans. These results show that SARS-CoV-2 can acquire mutations in minks that may reduce control of the virus by the human immune system. The study and findings have been published in Cell Reports.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) may serve as a wildlife reservoir for nearly extinct SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Deutsches Primatenzentrum: SARS-CoV-2 variants from mink evade inhibition by antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617 is resistant to bamlanivimab and evades antibodies induced by infection and vaccination - ScienceDirect

SARS-CoV-2 Variants From Mink Evade Inhibition by Antibody

Evasion of vaccine-induced humoral immunity by emerging sub-variants of SARS -CoV-2

Viruses, Free Full-Text

SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617 is resistant to bamlanivimab and evades antibodies induced by infection and vaccination - ScienceDirect

A review: Antibody-dependent enhancement in COVID-19: The not so friendly side of antibodies - Gabriela Athziri Sánchez-Zuno, Mónica Guadalupe Matuz-Flores, Guillermo González-Estevez, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Francisco Javier Turrubiates-Hernández, Katia

Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralization by vaccine-induced humoral immunity