Download MendeleyVaccination with different group 2 influenza subtypes alters epitope targeting and breadth of hemagglutinin stem-specific human B cells.
Mantus, G.E., Chopde, A.J., Gorman, J., Cominsky, L.Y., Ourahmane, A., Creanga, A., Shimberg, G.D., Gillespie, R.A., Van Wazer, D.J., Zhou, T., Gajjala, S.R., Williams, C., Maestle, E., Reed, D.S., Serebryannyy, L., Costner, P., Holman, L., Casazza, J.P., Koup, R.A., Dropulic, L.K., Kwong, P.D., McDermott, A.B., Kanekiyo, M., Andrews, S.F.(2025) Sci Transl Med 17: eadr8373-eadr8373
- PubMed: 39742506 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adr8373
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9BU6, 9BU8 - PubMed Abstract:
The conserved influenza hemagglutinin stem, which is a target of cross-neutralizing antibodies, is now used in vaccine strategies focused on protecting against influenza pandemics. Antibody responses to group 1 stem have been extensively characterized, but little is known about group 2. Here, we characterized the stem-specific repertoire of individuals vaccinated with one of three group 2 influenza subtypes (H3, H7, or H10). Epitope mapping revealed two epitope supersites on the group 2 stem. Antibodies targeting the central epitope were broadly cross-reactive, whereas antibodies targeting the lower epitope had narrower breadth but higher potency against H3 subtypes. The ratio of B cells targeting each of the supersites varied with the vaccine subtype, leading to differences in the cross-reactivity of the B cell response. Our findings suggest that vaccine strategies targeting both group 2 stem epitopes would be complementary, eliciting broader and more potent protection against both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20902, USA.
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