Influenza vaccines are updated regularly to provide protection against circulating strains, but responses to vaccination can vary between individuals. Previous exposure to influenza viruses and vaccines can leave behind pre-existing antibodies, which may influence how the immune system responds to later vaccination. However, how these antibodies are associated with subsequent B-cell responses remains incompletely understood.
In a study published in Virologica Sinica , a team of researchers followed 21 adults before and after seasonal influenza vaccination. Using flow cytometry, B-cell receptor sequencing, and monoclonal antibody characterization, they examined how baseline antibody levels were associated with B-cell responses after vaccination. The study improves understanding of how pre-existing immunity relates to vaccine-induced immune responses and may provide insights for future influenza vaccine development.
“We found that individuals with different pre-vaccination antibody levels showed distinct patterns of HA-binding B-cell responses,” shares senior and co-corresponding Yong Gao. “Participants with higher baseline antibody titers showed increased frequencies of HA⁺CD27⁻IgD⁺ naive-phenotype B cells and B-cell receptor features associated with less maturation.”
In contrast, B-cell receptors and antibodies from lower-titer groups showed greater mutation levels, broader class switching, and broader neutralizing activity against historical influenza strains.
“Our findings highlight that pre-existing antibody levels are associated with different patterns of B-cell maturation and antibody breadth following influenza vaccination,” Gao says.
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Contact the author:
Yong Gao,
The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC
Division of Life Sciences and Medicine
University of Science and Technology of China
Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
Email: ygao387@ustc.edu.cn
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Virologica Sinica
Experimental study
Cells
Pre-existing hemagglutinin-specific antibody levels are associated with B-cell repertoire maturation and antibody breadth after influenza vaccination
The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.