Neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants after COVID-19 vaccination and boosters

The SARS-CoV-2 virus emerges into new variants as it circulates in human hosts, creating a persistent public health concern due to mutations in the spike protein that enhance viral transmissibility and diminish vaccine-induced immunity. Assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in eliciting a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kabita Adhikari, Subhash C. Verma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Vaccine: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136225000580
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Summary:The SARS-CoV-2 virus emerges into new variants as it circulates in human hosts, creating a persistent public health concern due to mutations in the spike protein that enhance viral transmissibility and diminish vaccine-induced immunity. Assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in eliciting a robust neutralizing antibody response against various SARS-CoV-2 variants is crucial for shaping vaccination strategies and guiding future vaccine development. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the neutralization capacity of pooled serum samples collected from individuals who received the initial two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series followed by booster doses. We utilized the plaque reduction neutralization assay to test the serum samples against major SARS-CoV-2 variants, including WA1, Delta, Omicron, and its subvariants. Our analysis revealed that the neutralization efficacy of sera from individuals with the initial two-dose vaccination series was significantly diminished against Omicron variants. However, homologous booster doses substantially increased neutralizing antibody responses, demonstrating enhanced efficacy against newer SARS-CoV-2 variants. These findings emphasize the importance of booster vaccinations in maintaining strong immune protection against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlight the need for continued monitoring of vaccine efficacy in response to emerging variants.
ISSN:2590-1362