Epitope-spanning antigenic variation reprograms immunodominance and broadens immunity in sequential influenza vaccination - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #influenza vaccination
- #epitope hierarchy
- #immune imprinting
- Epitope-spanning antigenic variation in sequential influenza vaccination reprograms immunodominance and broadens immunity.
- Targeted variation across multiple hemagglutinin (HA) head sites (A, B, and D) redirects recall toward conserved, subdominant head and stem epitopes.
- Antigenically distant priming in ferrets accelerates neutralizing antibody induction, broadens reactivity, enhances cross-protection, and reduces viral shedding.
- Epitope hierarchy reshaping links targeted antigenic variation to enhanced B cell competition, amplified T cell help, and improved viral control.
- This principle may apply to vaccines against other rapidly evolving viruses where immune imprinting limits immune breadth.