[Correspondence] Antibody evasion and receptor binding of SARS-CoV-2 variants PQ.16.1.1 and RK.1

Since the end of 2024, the SARS-CoV-2 variant NB.1.8.1 has spread rapidly worldwide and progressively displaced older omicron variants, achieving near-total dominance in Asia. Two new subvariants designated PQ.16.1.1 and RK.1 subsequently emerged from this NB.1.8.1 variant and expanded substantially, particularly in China and Singapore. The subvariant PQ.16.1.1 contains four specific amino acid changes: Asp253Gly in the N-terminal domain and Asn417Thr, Asp420Asn, and Ile478Thr in the receptor-binding domain compared to the original NB.1.8.1 variant. These changes may affect the variant's ability to evade human antibodies and bind to cellular receptors.