Omicron breakthrough infections in wild-type SARS-CoV-2 vaccinees elicit
high levels of neutralizing antibodies against pangolin coronavirus
GX_P2V
Abstract
Omicron BF.7 became the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Beijing after
the adjustment of COVID-19 response strategies in December 2022. The
ability of antibodies elicited by BF.7 infection to cross-react with
SARS-CoV-2-like viruses is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the
cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2-related
pangolin coronavirus GX_P2V in sera from vaccinated and/or SARS-CoV-2
infected individuals. All vaccinated individuals who recovered from
Omicron BF.7 breakthrough infections exhibited substantially higher
levels of neutralizing antibodies against GX_P2V among collected
subject populations (geometric mean titer [GMT] = 362). Uninfected
individuals who received four-mixed-dose vaccines also demonstrated
higher levels of neutralizing antibodies (GMT = 44) against GX_P2V than
those who received two- or three-dose vaccines and those who recovered
from wild type SARS-CoV-2. This finding highlights the significance of
prior and hybrid booster vaccinations with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
in generating potent cross-protective immunity against future spillovers
of SARS-CoV-2-like viruses.