A single residue change only differing by an atomic group can drive imprinting to influenza.

ABSTRACT: First described as original antigenic sin (OAS), which is deleterious, or now immune imprinting, which also accounts for beneficial effects, it is clear that immune responses to viruses tend to be biased by previous exposure to similar strains^1,2. Various non-exclusive models for the basis of imprinting include that it results from unique features of childhood immunity^3,4; it is driven by pre-existing serum antibodies via epitope masking⁵; or it occurs as a byproduct of residual memory following viral antigenic evolution⁵. To understand the basis and impact of imprinting from influenza, we characterized the B cell responses of young children upon consecutive first infections with divergent H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses. Here, we show that beyon

SUBMITTER: Sun J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12265162 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature