A Universal Flu Vaccine08/04/2015Sarah C.P. Williams

TweetTweet 4 0 0

Adding sialylated antibodies to a typical vaccine might confer broader, longer-lasting immunity when it comes to influenzaand other viruses. How? Find out...

The sialylation of anti-influenza antibodies leads toimmunoglobulin G molecules with broaderrecognition of the flu virus. Credit: Wang, et al. Cell.

Stranger than Fiction: Were You Right?Ricing to the ChallengeA Clearer Picture of Protein Folding

Researchers have discovered that whether or not one region of an antibody has been studded with sialic acid determineshow the antibody reacts with immune cells and the breadth of immunity that antibody confers. The finding could lead to new,longer-lasting vaccines for influenza or other viruses.

“Flu vaccines are typically only effective in 50 to 60 percent of the population, and we wanted to know what could predictthat effectiveness,” said Taia Wang, a clinical investigator at Rockefeller University and first author of the new paperpublished in Cell. “What turned out to correlate really well was the level of sialic acid.”

Wang and her colleagues made this discovery while studying theFc region of antibodies generated in response to a flu vaccine.While one end of an antibody interacts with the antigens in avaccine, the opposing Fc region binds to immune cells tocoordinate a longer-lasting immune memory of the antigen.Sometimes, sialic acid is added to these Fc regions, changingtheir interactions with B cells. Over the course of their studies, thescientists noticed that the more sialylated the Fc regions in apatient’s antibodies are, the more memory B cells there are in theirblood, and the better the protection of the vaccine against the flu.

The team wondered whether adding already-sialylated antibodiesto the antigens present in a vaccine would help boost itseffectiveness. So they tested this theory in mice, giving someanimals a normal vaccine and others a mixture of vaccine andantibodies with a sialylated Fc region. The groups of mice hadequal protection against the flu strain they’d been vaccinated for,but the mice that also received the antibodies were protectedagainst other strains of the flu as well.

“Ultimately, with more sialic acid, that means B cells with higheraffinity,” Wang explained. “That breadth would mean multiple yearsof immunity instead of just one.”

Wang suspects that the sialylated Fc region causes B cells torecognize more areas of flu antigens. “It’s a very basicimmunology finding that could be transferred to many othersystems,” Wang added. “Maybe RSV [respiratory syncytial virus]or HIV.”

Reference

Wang, T.T., Maamary, J., Tan, G.S., Bournazos, S., et al. (2015)Anti-HA Glycoforms Drive B Cell Affinity Selection and DetermineInfluenza Vaccine Efficacy. Cell. 162, 1-10.

In order to deliver a personalised, responsive service and to improve the site, we remember and store information about how you use it. This is done using simple text filescalled cookies which sit on your computer. By continuing to use this site and access its features, you are consenting to our use of cookies. To find out more about the wayBioTechniques uses cookies please go to our ‘Cookie Policy’ page.

In order to deliver a personalised, responsive service and to improve the site, we remember and store information about how you use it. This is done using simple text filescalled cookies which sit on your computer. By continuing to use this site and access its features, you are consenting to our use of cookies. To find out more about the wayBioTechniques uses cookies please go to our ‘Cookie Policy’ page.

submit papers submit covers reprints advertise

permissions sitemap subscriptions privacy

terms & conditions contact us

feedback

© 1983-2010 BioTechniques

Keywords: immunity

0 Comments Sort by

Facebook Comments Plugin

TopTop

Add a comment...