Glancing back at SARS-CoV-2: Serological classification

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exerted a profound influence on the global community over the past few years. As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to mutate, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to public health. The serotype is defined as a distinct variant within a microbial species, characterized by specific immune reactions. It has previously been used to study various pathogens, such as human papillomavirus and dengue virus. SARS-CoV-2 serotype classification has been proposed by different groups recently. At present, the main prevalent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 have been classified into six distinct serotypes. SARS-CoV-2 serotype classification has been applied in areas such as surveillance, early warning, and vaccination, etc. Consequently, we reviewed previous studies and propose further perspectives for future applications of SARS-CoV-2 serotypes classification.