Omicron breakthrough infections in wild‐type SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccinees elicit high levels of neutralizing antibodies against pangolin coronavirus GX_P2V

Abstract

AbstractOmicron BF.7 became the predominant SARS‐CoV‐2 variant in Beijing after the abolishment of Zero‐COVID policy 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, compared to other subject groups, with a geometric mean titer (GMT) of 362. Uninfected individuals who received four‐mixed‐dose vaccines also demonstrated higher levels of neutralizing antibodies (GMT = 44) against GX_P2V than those uninfected individuals who received two‐ or three‐dose vaccines and those unvaccinated convalescents of wild‐type SARS‐CoV‐2. This study highlights the significance of prior vaccinations with wild‐type SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines in generating potent cross‐protective immunity against future spillovers of SARS‐CoV‐2‐like viruses.