Heterologous mucosal vaccine boosting enhances mucosal and systemic immunity by distinct mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Seasonal booster vaccination is the primary intervention for protection from respiratory viral infections, such as influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2. However, efficacy is often limited because immune exposure to prior strains impairs development of new responses. In this study, we sought to determine how this issue could be overcome in a mouse model of heterologous immunization against WT and omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2. Intranasal booster immunization circumvented the shortcomings of intramuscular immunization, resulting in superior systemic and mucosal T and B cell immunity and better viral control following SARS-CoV-2 challenge in hamsters. Mechanistically, an intranasal omicron booster immunization bypassed deleterious immune imprinting following intramuscular ancestral strain prime, whi

SUBMITTER: Bissett C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12574661 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature