Zhang, W., Allen, E.K., Li, S. et al. IFN-gene signatures in B cells following influenza A and B virus infection and influenza vaccination. EMBO Mol Med (2026)
Influenza viruses continue to cause a substantial global disease burden. Despite influenza vaccination, some individuals succumb to life-threatening influenza or death. Yet our understanding of immune features elicited by vaccination and influenza A and B virus (IAV, IBV) infection is limited. To define molecular signatures of influenza-specific B-cells, we performed scRNA-sequencing of influenza-specific B-cells in vaccinees and hospitalized IAV/IBV-infected patients using HA-probes. We observed increased interferon-stimulated gene signatures (IF44L, IFITM1 and XAF1), in total B-cells from IBV-patients, but not at 1-month following patients´ recovery or in IAV-patients or vaccinees. Phenotypic differentiation and isotype class-switching of HA-specific B-cells were observed following vaccination, with clonal sharing between memory and atypical B-cell phenotypes. In-vitro influenza virus infection experiments showed IBVs having higher infectivity of human PBMCs, including B-cells, and reduced B-cell proliferation compared to IAV, potentially associated with antiproliferative effect of IFITM1. We provide key insights into B-cell immunity towards IBV and IAV infections and vaccination, which will inform rational vaccine design and therapeutic strategies aimed at eliciting robust HA-specific B-cell responses, while minimizing adverse effects caused by natural infection.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Emergence and Rapid Spread of a New Reassortant High Pathogenicity H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Avian Influenza Virus in Nigeria 22 hours ago
- Influenza mRNA vaccine with engineered panhandle-forming UTRs provides potent, dose-sparing protection against seasonal influenza viruses 22 hours ago
- Neuraminidase-inhibiting antibodies boosted by H1N1pdm infection cross-react differently with H5N1 of clades 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.2.1a 2 days ago
- Effects of age and birth cohort on influenza A virus subtype-specific hospitalization rates, United States 2010-2025 2 days ago
- Genetic characterization of a novel triple-reassortant influenza A (H1N2) virus from pigs, China, 2021 2 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


