Emergence of the Novel “Eris” COVID Variant

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Recent research reveals that the newly identified Eris lineage of SARS-CoV-2, encompassing EG.5 and EG.5.1 subtypes, possesses a moderate ability to evade antibodies, contributing to its increasing prevalence. However, upcoming vaccines based on the XBB.1.5 lineage are expected to remain effective against this variant. Notably, the severity of illnesses caused by these variants remains unchanged.

EG.5.1, a sublineage of SARS-CoV-2, displays a distinct advantage in eluding neutralizing antibodies.

Following vaccination or infection, our immune system generates antibodies designed to target the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, thwarting the virus’s ability to infiltrate and replicate within our cells. Consequently, the virus undergoes mutations that diminish the efficacy of these antibodies in binding to its spike protein.

Since May 2023, the EG.5 lineage, named Eris, has been spreading worldwide, earning the classification of a “Variant of Interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO) in early August. Nevertheless, the precise reason behind the increased dissemination of Eris has remained unclear.

Researchers from the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen have now scrutinized the characteristics of the EG.5.1 sublineage.

Their findings indicate that EG.5.1 is not inherently more infectious than its predecessors, implying no enhanced ability to infect host cells. However, EG.5.1 demonstrates a greater capacity to evade neutralizing antibodies compared to other presently circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages, providing it with an advantage in infecting individuals whose immune systems have produced neutralizing antibodies following vaccination or prior infection.

After enduring years of the pandemic, marked by multiple waves of infections caused by ever-evolving virus variants and corresponding hospitalization rates, the situation has significantly improved. Major outbreaks outside the cold and wet seasons are no longer occurring, largely attributed to the rapid development of vaccines.

Many individuals have received immunization against SARS-CoV-2. Booster vaccinations utilizing adapted vaccines, commonly known as booster shots, along with infections in vaccinated individuals involving currently circulating virus variants, have further honed our immune system’s ability to combat newly emerging virus variants.

The efficacy of our immune protection relies, in part, on neutralizing antibodies produced by our immune system’s cells following vaccination or infection. These antibodies attach to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, preventing the virus from entering our cells, a mechanism known as neutralization.

However, even with neutralizing antibodies, achieving 100 percent protection against a SARS-CoV-2 infection remains uncertain due to the virus’s potential to mutate. This process, referred to as antibody escape, is driven by mutations in the spike protein, making it less favorable for neutralizing antibodies to bind effectively.

Markus Hoffmann, the lead scientist of the study, notes that mutations can also enhance the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants by improving the spike protein’s binding to the cellular receptor ACE2.

Since May 2023, the SARS-CoV-2 lineage EG.5, including its descendant EG.5.1, has been on the rise in numerous countries, earning the moniker Eris, named after the Greek goddess of chaos and discord. Importantly, there is currently no evidence to suggest that infections with EG.5 and EG.5.1 lead to more severe illnesses.

Nonetheless, the exact cause of the increased dissemination of EG.5 and EG.5.1 remains unclear. A team of scientists from the German Primate Center, along with collaborators, has investigated the EG.5.1 sublineage. Their findings suggest that the enhanced ability to evade antibodies likely contributes to Eris’s accelerated spread.

In summary, the results indicate that the spread of EG.5 and its sublineages primarily stems from antibody evasion rather than an enhanced capacity to infect host cells. However, the increase in antibody escape is moderate and does not undermine the immunity established through vaccination or prior infection.

Adapted vaccines based on the widespread XBB.1.5 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 are expected to remain effective against EG.5 and its sublineages. As we approach the autumn of this year, the deployment of these adapted vaccines, coupled with primary and booster vaccinations for high-risk groups and their close contacts, is strongly recommended, according to Stefan Pöhlmann, Head of the Infection Biology Unit at the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research.

Reference: “Neutralisation sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 lineages EG.5.1 and XBB.2.3” by Lu Zhang, Amy Kempf, Inga Nehlmeier, Anne Cossmann, Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka, Metodi V Stankov, Sebastian R Schulz, Hans-Martin Jäck, Georg M N Behrens, Stefan Pöhlmann and Markus Hoffmann, published on September 13, 2023, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00547-9.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Eris Variant Antibody Evasion

More about Eris Variant Antibody Evasion

• The Lancet Infectious Diseases – The original research paper titled “Neutralisation sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 lineages EG.5.1 and XBB.2.3” published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
• World Health Organization (WHO) – The official website of the World Health Organization, providing updates on COVID-19 and variants of interest.
• German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research – The official website of the German Primate Center, where the research on the Eris lineage was conducted.
• SARS-CoV-2 Variants – Information about SARS-CoV-2 variants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).