Abstract
The influenza A virus infection continues to be a threat to the human population. The seasonal variation of the virus and the likelihood of periodical pandemics caused by completely new virus strains make it difficult to produce vaccines that efficiently protect against this infection. Antibodies (Abs) are very important in preventing the infection and in blocking virus propagation once the infection has taken place. However, the precise protection mechanism provided by these Abs still needs to be established. Furthermore, most research has focused on Abs directed to the globular head domain of hemagglutinin (HA). However, other domains of HA (like the stem) and other proteins are also able to elicit protective Ab responses. In this article, we review the current knowledge about the role of both neutralizing and non-neutralizing anti-influenza proteins Abs that play a protective role during infection or vaccination.
Highlights
The influenza proteins are recognized as foreign by the immune system, and antibodies (Abs) against them are produced during vaccination or after a natural infection
In a recent study Lindermann and Hensley found by using serum passive-transfer experiments in a mouse model, that Abs with an original antigenic sin (OAS) phenotype were effective in neutralizing antigenically different influenza virus strains in vivo, indicating that OAS-Abs are an important mechanism of protection in secondary immune responses [40]
Couch et al, confirmed by multivariate analysis that anti-NA Abs titers in serum and nasal secretions are independent predictors of immunity and protection to influenza in samples taken pre and post pandemic of 2009 [73]. These results suggest that in addition to hemagglutination inhibition activity (HAI), neuraminidase inhibition (NAI) titers can serve as predictors of protection
Summary
The influenza proteins are recognized as foreign by the immune system, and antibodies (Abs) against them are produced during vaccination or after a natural infection. In a recent study Lindermann and Hensley found by using serum passive-transfer experiments in a mouse model, that Abs with an OAS phenotype were effective in neutralizing antigenically different influenza virus strains in vivo, indicating that OAS-Abs are an important mechanism of protection in secondary immune responses [40].
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