TY - JOUR T1 - SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 escapes neutralization by South African COVID-19 donor plasma JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2021.01.18.427166 SP - 2021.01.18.427166 AU - Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt AU - Ayres, Frances AU - Hermanus, Tandile AU - Madzivhandila, Mashudu AU - Kgagudi, Prudence AU - Oosthuysen, Brent AU - Lambson, Bronwen E. AU - de Oliveira, Tulio AU - Vermeulen, Marion AU - van der Berg, Karin AU - Rossouw, Theresa AU - Boswell, Michael AU - Ueckermann, Veronica AU - Meiring, Susan AU - von Gottberg, Anne AU - Cohen, Cheryl AU - Morris, Lynn AU - Bhiman, Jinal N. AU - Moore, Penny L. Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/01/2021.01.18.427166.abstract N2 - SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), a novel lineage of coronavirus causing COVID-19, contains substitutions in two immunodominant domains of the spike protein. Here, we show that pseudovirus expressing 501Y.V2 spike protein completely escapes three classes of therapeutically relevant antibodies. This pseudovirus also exhibits substantial to complete escape from neutralization, but not binding, by convalescent plasma. These data highlight the prospect of reinfection with antigenically distinct variants and foreshadows reduced efficacy of spike-based vaccines.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -