Differential neutralization efficiency of hemagglutinin epitopes, antibody interference, and the design of influenza vaccines.

ABSTRACT: It is generally assumed that amino acid mutations in the surface protein, hemagglutinin (HA), of influenza viruses allow these viruses to circumvent neutralization by antibodies induced during infection. However, empirical data on circulating influenza viruses show that certain amino acid changes to HA actually increase the efficiency of neutralization of the mutated virus by antibodies raised against the parent virus. Here, we suggest that this surprising increase in neutralization efficiency after HA mutation could reflect steric interference between antibodies. Specifically, if there is a steric competition for binding to HA by antibodies with different neutralization efficiencies, then a mutation that reduces the binding of antibodies with low neutralization efficiencies could increase

SUBMITTER: Ndifon W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2688967 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature