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J Infect. 2020 Jan 16. pii: S0163-4453(20)30025-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.11.024. [Epub ahead of print] Specificity, Kinetics and Longevity of Antibody Responses to Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Infection in Humans.
Chen J1, Zhu H2, Horby PW3, Wang Q1, Zhou J1, Jiang H4, Liu L5, Zhang T6, Zhang Y7, Chen X1, Deng X1, Nikolay B8, Wang W1, Cauchemez S8, Guan Y2, Uyeki TM9, Yu H10.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The long-term dynamics of antibody responses in patients with influenza A(H7N9) virus infection are not well understood.
METHODS:
We conducted a longitudinal serological follow-up study in patients who were hospitalized with A(H7N9) virus infection, during 2013-2018. A(H7N9) virus-specific antibody responses were assessed by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and neutralization (NT) assays. A random intercept model was used to fit a curve to HAI antibody responses over time. HAI antibody responses were compared by clinical severity.
RESULTS:
Of 67 patients with A(H7N9) virus infection, HAI antibody titers reached 40 on average 11 days after illness onset and peaked at a titer of 290 after three months, and average titers of ≥80 and ≥40 were present until 11 months and 22 months respectively. HAI antibody responses were significantly higher in patients who experienced severe disease, including respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, compared with patients who experienced less severe illness.
CONCLUSIONS:
Patients with A(H7N9) virus infection who survived severe disease mounted higher antibody responses that persisted for longer periods compared with those that experienced moderate disease. Studies of convalescent plasma treatment for A(H7N9) patients should consider collection of donor plasma from survivors of severe disease between 1-11 months after illness onset.
Copyright ? 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Antibody response; Clinical severity; Follow-up; Influenza A(H7N9)
PMID: 31954742 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.11.024