Immunological imprinting: Understanding COVID-19

Immunological imprinting generically refers to the effects prior exposures have on subsequent immune re-sponses to, and eventually protection against, antigenically related viruses. Here, Koutsakos and Ellebedy explain different concepts and terms around imprinting and the fundamental immunological principles behind it. They also discuss the potential role imprinting may have in the context of COVID-19 vaccines.

Automated summary

Immunological imprinting refers to the effects of previous exposures on subsequent immune responses and protection against related viruses. In this article, Koutsakos and Ellebedy explain the concepts and principles behind imprinting and discuss its potential role in COVID-19 vaccines.