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JCI Insight. 2019 Dec 3. pii: 132155. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.132155. [Epub ahead of print] Pre-existing subtype immunodominance shapes memory B cell recall response to influenza vaccination.
Abreu RB, Kirchenbaum GA, Clutter EF, Sautto GA, Ross TM.
Abstract
Influenza is a highly contagious viral pathogen with more than 200,000 cases reported in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 season. Annual vaccination is recommended by the World Health Organization with the goal to reduce influenza severity and transmission. Currently available vaccines are ~60% effective and vaccine effectiveness varies from season to season, as well as between different influenza subtypes within a single season. Immunological imprinting from early life influenza infection can prominently shape the immune response to subsequent infections. Here, the impact of pre-existing B cell memory in the response to quadrivalent influenza vaccine was assessed using blood samples collected from healthy subjects (18 to 85 years old) prior to and 21-28 days following influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination increased both HA-specific antibodies and memory B cells frequency. Despite no apparent differences in antigenicity between vaccine components, most individuals were biased towards one of the vaccine strains. Specifically, responses to H3N2 were reduced in magnitude relative to the other vaccine components. Overall, this study unveils a new mechanism underlying differential vaccine effectiveness against distinct influenza subtypes.
KEYWORDS:
B cells; Immunoglobulins; Infectious disease; Influenza; Virology
PMID: 31794433 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.132155
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