Heterosubtypic T-cell responses against avian influenza H5 haemagglutinin are frequently detected in individuals vaccinated against or previously infected with human subtypes of influenza.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cellula r immune responses play a critical role in providing help for the production of neutralizing antibodies to influenza virus, as well as producing anti-viral cytokines and killing infected cells in the lung. Heterosubtypic T-cell responses between different subtypes of influenza have been shown to exist in humans and to provide protection against morbidity and mortality associated with H5N1 infection in animal challenge models. Therefore, existing T-cell responses induced by natural infection or vaccination in humans may provide some degree of protection from infection with H5N1 strains, or may attenuate the severity of disease.

Objectives

To investigate heterosubtypic T-cell responses to avian influenza in humans.

Methods

T-cell responses to an overl

SUBMITTER: Goy K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4634225 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature