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.