Is Imprinting a Threat to Immune Responses?

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More than 90% of antibodies produced were derived from pre-existing B cells. Boosters introduced in Europe last September targeted the original strain and the BA.1 Omicron variants. The United States has rolled out boosters aimed at the BA.5 Imicron variants. Vaccines will need to change if they are to limit infection and transmission rather than just prevent fatalities.

Imprinting is a quirk of the immune system in which someone’s initial exposure to a virus biases their immune response when they meet the same virus again.

Studies are showing how imprinting shapes people’s responses to SARS-CoV-2; those infected with earlier strains can mount weaker responses to a later Omicron infection.

This phenomenon is dampening the hope that variant-tailored boosters will markedly reduce transmission of the virus, although researchers agree that variant-tailored boosters are worth getting because they still provide some immunity, and prevent serious illness.

This is an audio version of our Feature: How your first brush with COVID warps your immunity

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