Science Daily December 22, 2021
An international team of researchers (USA – University of Chicago, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, University of Washington, University of Maryland, Austria) has found a distinct class of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting a discrete membrane-proximal anchor epitope of the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk domain. The antibodies are broadly neutralizing across H1 viruses and can cross-react with pandemic-threat H2 and H5 viruses. Anchor epitope-targeting B cells are common in the human memory B cell (MBC) repertoire and were recalled in humans, a potential universal influenza virus vaccine. According to the researchers to maximize protection against seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses, vaccines should aim to boost this previously untapped source of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that are widespread in the human MBC pool…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ