Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40326334›Full record

ArticleEmerging microbes & infections2025

Enhanced variant neutralization through glycan masking of SARS-CoV-2 XBB1.5 RBD.

Joey Olivier, Charlotte George, Chloe Qingzhou Huang, Sneha B Sujit, Paul Tonks, Diego Cantoni, Joe Grove, Laura O'Reilly, Johannes Geiger, Christian Dohmen and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Emerging microbes & infections, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Joey OlivierLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-5144-5267
Charlotte GeorgeLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6585-3288
Chloe Qingzhou HuangLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0009-0009-1503-1030
Sneha B SujitDIOSynVax Ltd, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0009-0001-2588-5672
Paul TonksLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3512-5631
Diego CantoniMRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8527-7719
Joe GroveMRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5390-7579
Laura O'ReillyLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Johannes GeigerEthris GmbH, Planegg, Germany.
Christian DohmenEthris GmbH, Planegg, Germany.
Verena MummertEthris GmbH, Planegg, Germany.
Anne Rosalind SamuelEthris GmbH, Planegg, Germany.
Christian PlankEthris GmbH, Planegg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-6072-4903
Rebecca KinsleyDIOSynVax Ltd, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Nigel TempertonViral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent and University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7978-3815
Martina PfrangerInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0009-0004-4046-6398
Ralf WagnerDIOSynVax Ltd, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2029-3846
Jonathan L HeeneyLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2702-1621
Sneha VishwanathLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-9960-547X
George W CarnellLab of Viral Zoonotics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8875-0989

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve antigenically under the immune pressure exerted by both natural infection and vaccination. As new variants emerge, we face the recurring challenge of updating vaccines at significant financial cost to maintain their efficacy. To address this, novel strategies are needed to enhance the breadth of protection offered by vaccines or, at a minimum, extend their effectiveness over time. One such strategy is antigen modification. In this study, we introduce a glycosylation site into a binding but non-neutralizing epitope within the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 receptor binding domain (RBD) to redirect the immune response towards more potent neutralizing epitopes. Immunization of mice with this modified antigen via the mRNA vaccine platform resulted in a dramatic increase in neutralizing antibodies compared to the wild-type XBB.1.5 RBD, showing superior protection against a range of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, from BA.2 to JN.1. Our findings reinforce the power of the glycan masking approach, which in combination with the now well-established mRNA vaccine platform can contribute to broader and better vaccines.

Indexed as

Antibodies, NeutralizingCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesPolysaccharidesSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusAnimalsAntibodies, ViralEpitopesFemaleGlycosylationHumansMiceMice, Inbred BALB CAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralCOVID-19 VaccinesEpitopesPolysaccharidesSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2Glycan maskingneutralising antibodiesnext generation vaccinesreceptor binding domainSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40326334
PMCPMC12093793

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.