Changed epitopes drive the antigenic drift for influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In circulating influenza viruses, gradually accumulated mutations on the glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA), which interacts with infectivity-neutralizing antibodies, lead to the escape of immune system (called antigenic drift). The antibody recognition is highly correlated to the conformation change on the antigenic sites (epitopes), which locate on HA surface. To quantify a changed epitope for escaping from neutralizing antibodies is the basis for the antigenic drift and vaccine development.

Results

We have developed an epitope-based method to identify the antigenic drift of influenza A utilizing the conformation changes on epitopes. A changed epitope, an antigenic site on HA with an accumulated conformation change to escape from neutralizing antibody, can be consi

SUBMITTER: Huang JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3044287 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature