Presenting Author: Matthew J Prellberg
, PhD Student at Icahn Sch. of Med., Mount Sinai
Abstract:
B cells, and the antibodies they produce, represent one of the most durable, potent, and specific forms of immunological memory for protection against viral infections. Central to this sustained immune protection are germinal centers (GCs), which produce high-affinity antibody secreting plasma cells and memory B cells. Understanding how GC reactions differ from natural infection and vaccine-induced immunity remains a central question of vital importance to inform the next-generation of vaccine design. Here, we investigated GC induction in a mouse model of influenza infection as well as after vaccination with quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV), with or without adjuvants. We observed that in natural infection, GC frequencies are increased in draining lymph nodes, spleen, and lung tissue in a dose-dependent manner. With vaccination, GC formation peaked at 7 days post vaccination (DPV) in the draining lymph and 14 DPV in spleen, except for IMDQ-PC (TLR7/8 agonist), which showed faster GC kinetics. Additionally, adjuvanted QIV vaccines showed enhanced GC B cell induction with greater durability, up to 21 DPV compared to QIV alone in both the draining lymph and spleen, as well as increased total IgG serum titers. Adjuvants represent potent enhancers of humoral immunity with the potential to increase the quality of vaccines. We are currently investigating how adjuvants will affect the memory compartment of humoral immunity and how this compares to natural infection.
Differential effects of adjuvants on germinal center formation in Influenza vaccination and infection.
Category
Poster
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Date: May 6 Presentation Time: 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM Room: Exhibit Hall F1