Immune Imprinting and Implications for COVID-19

Immunological memory is the key source of protective immunity against pathogens. At the current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, heterologous combinations of exposure to viral antigens during infection and/or vaccination shape a distinctive immunological memory. Immune imprinting, the downside of memory, might limit the generation of de novo immune response against variant infection or the response to the next-generation vaccines. Here, we review mechanistic basis of immune imprinting by focusing on B cell immunobiology and discuss the extent to which immune imprinting is harmful, as well as its effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

Automated summary

Immunological memory plays a crucial role in protective immunity against pathogens. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the combination of exposure to viral antigens from infection and/or vaccination shapes a distinct immunological memory. However, immune imprinting may limit the generation of a new immune response against variant infections or response to future vaccines. This review focuses on B cell immunobiology to understand the mechanistic basis of immune imprinting and discusses its harmful effects and impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.