Age-specific differences in the dynamics of protective immunity to influenza

Sylvia Ranjeva; Rahul Subramanian; Vicky J Fang; Gabriel M Leung; Dennis K M Ip; Ranawaka A P M Perera; J S Malik Peiris; Benjamin J Cowling; Sarah Cobey

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09652-6

Age-specific differences in the dynamics of protective immunity to influenza

Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 10;10(1):1660. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09652-6.

Authors

Sylvia Ranjeva¹, Rahul Subramanian², Vicky J Fang³, Gabriel M Leung³, Dennis K M Ip³, Ranawaka A P M Perera³, J S Malik Peiris³, Benjamin J Cowling³, Sarah Cobey²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. slr@uchicago.edu.
² Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
³ WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Patrick Manson Building, 7 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.

Abstract

Influenza A viruses evolve rapidly to escape host immunity, causing reinfection. The form and duration of protection after each influenza virus infection are poorly understood. We quantify the dynamics of protective immunity by fitting individual-level mechanistic models to longitudinal serology from children and adults. We find that most protection in children but not adults correlates with antibody titers to the hemagglutinin surface protein. Protection against circulating strains wanes to half of peak levels 3.5-7 years after infection in both age groups, and wanes faster against influenza A(H3N2) than A(H1N1)pdm09. Protection against H3N2 lasts longer in adults than in children. Our results suggest that influenza antibody responses shift focus with age from the mutable hemagglutinin head to other epitopes, consistent with the theory of original antigenic sin, and might affect protection. Imprinting, or primary infection with a subtype, has modest to no effect on the risk of non-medically attended infections in adults.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Antibodies, Viral / blood*
Antibodies, Viral / immunology
Antigens, Viral / immunology
Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross Protection / immunology*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemagglutinins / immunology
Hong Kong / epidemiology
Humans
Immunologic Memory / immunology*
Incidence
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology
Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification
Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage
Influenza Vaccines / immunology
Influenza, Human / epidemiology
Influenza, Human / immunology*
Influenza, Human / prevention & control
Influenza, Human / virology
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Biological*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Time Factors
Young Adult

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Antigens, Viral
Hemagglutinins
Influenza Vaccines

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding