Profound neutralization evasion and augmented host cell entry are hallmarks of the fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2 lineage XBB.1.5

Since late 2022, the share of infections caused by the SARS-CoV-2 lineage XBB.1.5 has gradually increased in the United States, resulting in XBB.1.5 becoming the dominating SARS-CoV-2 lineage in the United States and a similar trend is likely to soon take place also in European countries. However, information on the virological properties of XBB.1.5 is scarce. Here, we conducted an initial virological assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 lineage.