Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42457878›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Variant-specific and cross-reactive antibody responses following COVID-19 booster vaccinations and SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections.

Iris Medits-Weiss, Dominik Moll, David N Springer, Stephan W Aberle, Judith H Aberle, Karin Stiasny

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Iris Medits-WeissCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. iris.medits-weiss@meduniwien.ac.at.
Dominik MollCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
David N SpringerCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Stephan W AberleCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Judith H AberleCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Karin StiasnyCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. karin.stiasny@meduniwien.ac.at.

Funding

Austrian Science Fund 10.55776/P35978Hochschuljubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien Project H-334533/2021Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of the City of Vienna 23096
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has evolved into several genetic variants, all bearing mutations that reduce antibody binding and affect vaccine and treatment effectiveness. Updated COVID-19 vaccines, including bivalent formulations (wild type [WT]/BA.1 or WT/BA.5) and more recent monovalent versions targeting emerging variants such as XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2 or LP.8.1, were developed to broaden protection. However, immune imprinting may limit the induction of neutralizing antibodies against strains that differ significantly, even after receiving several variant-specific boosters. A deeper understanding of how booster vaccination reshapes antibody specificity remains essential for rational vaccine design. We examined the antibody response to a bivalent WT/BA.5 booster, focusing on antibody levels and neutralization. Serum samples collected before and after a fourth dose of monovalent WT or bivalent (WT/BA.5) mRNA vaccines were compared with sera from individuals after primary WT infections and Omicron BA.1, BA.2, or BA.5 breakthrough infections. We found that both monovalent and bivalent boosters significantly increased IgG and neutralizing antibodies, but breakthrough infections induced broader cross-reactive responses. Depletion experiments revealed that booster-induced immunity was predominantly mediated by cross-reactive antibodies, with the highest levels after breakthrough infections and the lowest after a primary WT infection. These findings provide functional insights into the antibody specificities associated with imprinting effects following variant-adapted booster vaccination.

Indexed as

Booster vaccinationsELISAIgG antibodiesImprintingmRNA vaccinesNeutralizationOmicron BA.5Pseudovirus neutralization assaySARS-CoV-2Variants of concern (VoC)

Identifiers

PMID42457878
PMCPMC13683043

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.