An, Y., Cai, M., Zhao, C., Zhang, M., Wu, X., Huan. Consensus H3N2 HA immunogens incorporating key antigenic mutations elicit broad-spectrum neutralizing responses. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 15(1)
Seasonal influenza A/H3N2 poses a significant public health burden due to its rapid antigenic evolution, necessitating frequent vaccine updates. This study systematically analysed the antigenic evolution of 14 H3N2 vaccine strains (2000–2022) using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays and antigenic cartography. Vaccine strains exhibited cross-neutralization patterns, with higher reactivity among strains from adjacent years, forming six antigenic clusters. Key amino acid mutations (e.g. 144K, 189N) were identified as critical drivers of antigenic variation, with clustering-specific effects on neutralization sensitivity. Based on these findings, a consensus HA immunogen (consensus up-HA) was designed by combining mutations at key sites. This immunogen demonstrated broad-spectrum neutralization against pseudoviruses representing circulating strains from 2011 to 2024, including recent variants. These results highlight the potential of targeted HA modifications to develop broadly cross-reactive H3N2 vaccine candidate, offering broader and more durable neutralizing activity against evolving H3N2 strains.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Avian Influenza Weekly Update # 1062: 18 September 2026 11 hours ago
- Effectiveness of the 2025-2026 seasonal influenza vaccine among U.S. veterans: an observational study 12 hours ago
- Streamlined CRISPR-based assays for detection and subtyping of H5 and H7 avian influenza 2 days ago
- Host-specific effects of a pandemic H1N1 M gene on canine H3N2 influenza virus replication and immune responses 2 days ago
- Rapid Decline of Nesting Peregrine Falcons in the San Francisco Bay Region of California Synchronous with an Outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 2 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


