Contribution of antibody production against neuraminidase to the protection afforded by influenza vaccines.

ABSTRACT: Vaccines are instrumental in controlling the burden of influenza virus infection in humans and animals. Antibodies raised against both major viral surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), can contribute to protective immunity. Vaccine-induced HA antibodies have been characterized extensively, and they generally confer protection by blocking the attachment and fusion of a homologous virus onto host cells. Although not as well characterized, some functions of NA antibodies in influenza vaccine-mediated immunity have been recognized for many years. In this review, we summarize the case for NA antibodies in influenza vaccine-mediated immunity. In the absence of well-matched HA antibodies, NA antibodies can provide varying degrees of protection against disease. NA prote

SUBMITTER: Marcelin G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3389592 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature