The term hybrid immunity concerns the immunity provided by a combination of natural infection and vaccination. Recently, several publications showed the importance of studying and characterizing it in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Indeed, hybrid immunity enhance at the same time humoral (such as FcR binding, and level of neutralization) but also cellular responses (such as T cell immunity) and confers a gain in quality rather than quantity and duration of these responses compared to a unique immunization (natural infection or vaccination)
Understanding the impact of hybrid immunity on shaping the overall immune responses may provide key insights into the correlates of immunity and guide treatment or boosting recommendations. Population differs not only in its history of infection timing and infecting variant, but also in the type of vaccine and drugs received, the immune background, and finally, how well the immune system responded and maintains in time.
The focus has been on SARS-CoV-2 infection, but hybrid immunity in the context of emerging infectious diseases and actual endemic infections needs to be investigated. Qualitative and quantitative detail of humoral (FcR binding functions, ADCC, neutralization, B cells, antibodies, …) and cellular (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Macrophages, …) responses but also of the microenvironment (inflammatory markers, soluble mediators, endothelial cells,…) must be characterized for a better understanding of hybrid immunity developed in each particular context.
In this research topic, we will promote scientific manuscripts focus on:
• The memory humoral and/or cellular immunity developed after infection and vaccination.
• Priority will be given to emerging infectious diseases to fill the alarming knowledge gap and avoid misleading and risky behaviors against the recommendations of health authorities. We will cover viral and bacterial infections.
• Research papers and case reports are accepted. Reviews will be considered.
Keywords: Hybrid immunity, emerging infectious diseases, humoral and cellular memory responses, vaccines
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
