Georg M. N. Behrens

The paper characterizes the epidemiology and virology of the SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1, finding it spreads mainly in older adults and shows increased ACE2 binding but not greater antibody evasion.

This study shows the QTQTX motif in BA.3.2 S protein is not required for cleavage or lung cell entry, which depends on TMPRSS2 instead.

The paper characterizes the XEC SARS-CoV-2 lineage and evaluates the neutralization effect of JN.1 booster vaccination against KP.3.1.1 and XEC variants.

This study investigates the virological traits of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.87.1 lineage, finding it efficiently enters human cells but is more sensitive to antibody neutralization than JN.1.

This study identifies an ACE2-independent pathway for sarbecovirus entry in human cells, mediated by TMPRSS2-related proteases and linked to reduced antibody neutralization.

This study shows that the B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 evades antibodies from infection and vaccination, increases lung cell entry, and enhances cell fusion.