Immune Imprinting and Protection against Repeat Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2
Hiam Chemaitelly, Houssein H. Ayoub, Patrick Tang, Mohammad R. Hasan, Peter Coyle, Hadi M. Yassine, Hebah A. Al-Khatib, Maria K. Smatti, Zaina Al Kanaani, Einas Al‐Kuwari, Andrew Jeremijenko, Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal, Ali Nizar Latif, Riyazuddin Mohammad Shaik, Hanan F. Abdul Rahim, Gheyath K. Nasrallah, Mohamed Ghaith Al‐Kuwari, Adeel A. Butt, Hamad Eid Al‐Romaihi, Mohamed H. Al‐Thani, Abdullatif Al‐Khal, Roberto Bertollini, Laith J. Abu‐Raddad
Abstract
More than 2 years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the global population carries heterogeneous immune histories derived from various exposures to infection, viral variants, and vaccination.1 Evidence at the level of binding and neutralizing antibodies and B-cell and T-cell immunity suggests that a history of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can have a negative effect on subsequent protective immunity.1 In particular, the immune response to B.1.1.529 (omicron) subvariants could be compromised by differential immune imprinting in persons who have had a previous infection with the original virus or the B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant.1