Broadly cross-reactive antibodies dominate the human B cell response against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza pandemic demonstrated the global health threat of reassortant influenza strains. Herein, we report a detailed analysis of plasmablast and monoclonal antibody responses induced by pandemic H1N1 infection in humans. Unlike antibodies elicited by annual influenza vaccinations, most neutralizing antibodies induced by pandemic H1N1 infection were broadly cross-reactive against epitopes in the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk and head domain of multiple influenza strains. The antibodies were from cells that had undergone extensive affinity maturation. Based on these observations, we postulate that the plasmablasts producing these broadly neutralizing antibodies were predominantly derived…

• NF
  National Foundation for Cancer Research
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: AI057266, U19-AI057266, 5U19AI062629, U19 AI057266
• CF
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Awards: U19-AI057266, HHSN266200700006C, AI057266, U19 AI057266, HHSN266200500026C, U54-AI057158, 5U19AI062629