Matz HC, Yu TG, Dixit K, Kikawa C, Zhou JQ, Pena A. mRNA-based influenza vaccine expands the B cell response breadth in humans. Nat Immunol. 2026 Jun 15
Conventional influenza virus vaccines induce antibody responses of limited breadth. Whether mRNA-based influenza virus vaccines can induce a superior germinal center (GC) response in humans remains unclear. Here we assessed B cell responses in an observational study of cohorts of healthy young adults receiving a licensed, split-virion or investigative mRNA-based quadrivalent seasonal influenza virus vaccine over two consecutive seasons. mRNA-based vaccines consistently elicited higher antibody titers and frequencies of memory B cells. In the draining lymph nodes, mRNA vaccination stimulated sustained GC reactions that persisted for at least 26 weeks after vaccination in 5 of 13 participants across the two seasons. Proteomic analysis of serum IgG repertoire showed that mRNA vaccination increased the number of vaccine-elicited serum IgG clonotypes and promoted intraclonal expansion within pre-existing clonotypes. B cell lineage analyses further indicated that expanded serum clonotypes map to GC B cell-associated sub-branches, consistent with ongoing GC-driven evolution underlying intraclonal expansion. This repertoire remodeling was accompanied by increased binding breadth against antigenically divergent influenza viruses. These findings reveal a key role for persistent GC responses in broadening the repertoire of vaccine-induced antibodies.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- [preprint]Serological Evidence of Widespread Exposure to H5 Avian Influenza Virus in Arctic Foxes in Svalbard, Norway 10 hours ago
- Limited added benefit of seasonal influenza vaccination before A(H5) vaccination in mice and ferrets challenged with A(H5N1) 16 hours ago
- Emergence of Novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b in Commercial Poultry, Bangladesh 16 hours ago
- Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Swine Influenza A Viruses, Vietnam, 2020-2024 16 hours ago
- Isothermal Detection of Influenza D Virus using Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification 16 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


