Defining the serotypes of SARS-CoV-2 subvariants up to December, 2024

SARS-CoV-2 has evolved into multiple serotypes with varying abilities of evading COVID-19 vaccines depending on the SARS-CoV-2 prototype and subsequent variants or subvariants.1–5 The characterisation of the serotypes lays the groundwork for developing broad-spectrum vaccines and neutralising antibodies. We previously defined six serotypes of SARS-CoV-2 (serotypes I–VI) based on the antigenicity of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) or spike protein of representative variants or subvariants, encompassing the prototype, variants predating omicron, omicron itself, and omicron subvariants until the emergence of BA.2.86.