The impact of pre-existing cross-reactive immunity on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine responses.

Murray SM., Ansari AM., Frater J., Klenerman P., Dunachie S., Barnes E., Ogbe A.

Pre-existing cross-reactive immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins in infection-naive subjects have been described by several studies. In particular, regions of high homology between SARS-CoV-2 and common cold coronaviruses have been highlighted as a likely source of this cross-reactivity. However, the role of such cross-reactive responses in the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination is currently unclear. Here, we review evidence regarding the impact of pre-existing humoral and T cell immune responses to outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of conserved coronavirus epitopes for the rational design of pan-coronavirus vaccines and consider cross-reactivity of immune responses to ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as their impact on COVID-19 vaccination.

DOI

10.1038/s41577-022-00809-x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Rev Immunol

Publication Date

05/2023

Volume

23

Pages

304 - 316

Keywords

Humans, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Vaccines, Vaccines, Vaccination

Permalink Original publication