Speaker
Description
Avian A(H5N1) in birds/poultry is a pandemic threat, but how imprinting and seasonal immunity shape antibody recognition of avian subtypes is unclear. We assessed whether birth-cohort imprinting was associated with H5N1/H7N9 binding antibodies and whether H1N1/H3N2 infections boosted antibodies within matched HA groups.
We analysed 7,232 sera from 2,871 adults in the population-based MuSPAD cohort (born 1927–2001), sampled in 2020–2024. Binding antibodies to group 1 antigens (H5N1, three H1N1 strains) and group 2 (H7N9, three H3N2 strains) were measured by Luminex. Birth-year imprinting probabilities were estimated from German influenza circulation data. Infection was defined by ≥2 log2 titre rise. Age-adjusted mixed models assessed the H5N1–H7N9 contrast and HA-group-specific boosting.
Higher group 1 imprinting probability was associated with a higher H5N1–H7N9 contrast (β=0.82 log2 BAU; 1.76-fold increase; p<0.001), independent of age, and remained stable over time (ICC=0.85). H1N1 infection increased group 1 titres 3.4-fold versus 1.2-fold for group 2; H3N2 showed the reciprocal pattern (group 2: 3.2-fold; group 1: 1.1-fold; interaction p<0.001). Vaccination increased both groups similarly (~2.3-fold).
Birth-cohort imprinting shapes avian influenza binding-antibody landscapes, while seasonal infection induces HA-group-specific boosting. These patterns may support age-stratified pre-pandemic risk assessment and interpretation of vaccination-induced cross-reactive responses.
Keywords
Influenza A virus; Antibodies, Viral; Immunologic Memory; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Vaccination; Cross reactions
| Registration ID | INF26-81 |
|---|---|
| Professional status of the speaker | PhD student |
| Junior scientist status | Yes, I am a junior scientist. |
Author
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External references
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