Memory T cells established by seasonal human influenza A infection cross-react with avian influenza A (H5N1) in healthy individuals.

ABSTRACT: The threat of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans remains a global health concern. Current influenza vaccines stimulate antibody responses against the surface glycoproteins but are ineffective against strains that have undergone significant antigenic variation. An alternative approach is to stimulate pre-existing memory T cells established by seasonal human influenza A infection that could cross-react with H5N1 by targeting highly conserved internal proteins. To determine how common cross-reactive T cells are, we performed a comprehensive ex vivo analysis of cross-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cell responses to overlapping peptides spanning the full proteome of influenza A/Viet Nam/CL26/2005 (H5N1) and influenza A/New York/232/2004 (H3N2) in healthy individuals from the United K

SUBMITTER: Lee LY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542885 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature