Conformational Stability of the Hemagglutinin of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses Influences Susceptibility to Broadly Neutralizing Stem Antibodies.

ABSTRACT: Vaccines that elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies to the conserved stem of hemagglutinin (HA) are being developed as universal influenza vaccines that protect against influenza across multiple years. However, different influenza virus strains, even those in the same subtype with identical stem sequences, can vary in susceptibility to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies, and the reasons are not understood. Here we studied potential mechanisms underlying the differing sensitivities of a panel of H5N1 HA pseudoviruses to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies. We found that greater HA conformational stability, as measured by thermal inactivation and pH triggering of conformational changes, correlates with reduced neutralization sensitivity and antibody binding to HA under neutral- and low-p

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5974491 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature