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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Northern Mexico: Structural Biology Insights and the Impact of Obesity

by
Carlo F. Medina-Ramírez
1,†,
Jose L. Chavelas-Reyes
1,†,
Josefina G. Rodríguez-González
2,
Nadia A. Fernández-Santos
1,
Lihua Wei
1,
Francisco J. Cabrera-Santos
1,
Eli J. Fuentes-Chávez
2,
Luis M. Rodríguez-Martínez
1,2,* and
Mario A. Rodríguez Pérez
1,*
1
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, 88710 Reynosa, Mexico
2
Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Interdisciplinarios, 25280 Saltillo, Mexico
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(10), 4319; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104319
Submission received: 17 March 2026 / Revised: 16 April 2026 / Accepted: 22 April 2026 / Published: 12 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination remains essential, particularly in populations with a high prevalence of obesity. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with vaccine-induced humoral immunity in a cohort from northeastern Mexico and discuss the findings within a structural immunology framework of spike antigenicity and antibody–epitope interactions. A total of 138 adults were recruited in Reynosa and Matamoros (June 2021–June 2022) and categorized as healthy weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI criteria. Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was assessed using an ELISA-based assay, and differences across BMI groups were tested using the Kruskal–Wallis approach. Among all participants, 33.3% were classified as obese and 99.3% (137/138) were seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. No significant differences in IgG levels were detected between BMI categories (p = 0.20). These results indicate that, in this Mexican cohort—sampled during a period of heterogeneous and often incomplete vaccination schedules—obesity was not associated with reduced detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG responses. Our findings support the need to integrate population-level serology with mechanistic studies that interrogate antibody quality (e.g., neutralization potency and epitope specificity) to better connect clinical determinants such as obesity with molecular correlates of protection.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Mexico; obesity; metabolic disorder; immune response; structural biology SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Mexico; obesity; metabolic disorder; immune response; structural biology

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MDPI and ACS Style

Medina-Ramírez, C.F.; Chavelas-Reyes, J.L.; Rodríguez-González, J.G.; Fernández-Santos, N.A.; Wei, L.; Cabrera-Santos, F.J.; Fuentes-Chávez, E.J.; Rodríguez-Martínez, L.M.; Pérez, M.A.R. Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Northern Mexico: Structural Biology Insights and the Impact of Obesity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 4319. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104319

AMA Style

Medina-Ramírez CF, Chavelas-Reyes JL, Rodríguez-González JG, Fernández-Santos NA, Wei L, Cabrera-Santos FJ, Fuentes-Chávez EJ, Rodríguez-Martínez LM, Pérez MAR. Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Northern Mexico: Structural Biology Insights and the Impact of Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(10):4319. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104319

Chicago/Turabian Style

Medina-Ramírez, Carlo F., Jose L. Chavelas-Reyes, Josefina G. Rodríguez-González, Nadia A. Fernández-Santos, Lihua Wei, Francisco J. Cabrera-Santos, Eli J. Fuentes-Chávez, Luis M. Rodríguez-Martínez, and Mario A. Rodríguez Pérez. 2026. "Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Northern Mexico: Structural Biology Insights and the Impact of Obesity" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 10: 4319. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104319

APA Style

Medina-Ramírez, C. F., Chavelas-Reyes, J. L., Rodríguez-González, J. G., Fernández-Santos, N. A., Wei, L., Cabrera-Santos, F. J., Fuentes-Chávez, E. J., Rodríguez-Martínez, L. M., & Pérez, M. A. R. (2026). Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Northern Mexico: Structural Biology Insights and the Impact of Obesity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(10), 4319. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104319

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