Thelonevirologist (@thelonevirologist.bsky.social)

Cross-reactive antibody and T-cell responses after influenza virus infection in community-dwelling older adults | Journal of Virology The older population is at increased risk for severe influenza virus infection due to age-related impaired immune responses to novel antigens. Consequently, older adults rely more on previously formed cross-reactive memory responses compared to younger adults. In this study, we longitudinally investigated the influenza virus-specific antibody response as well as the virus-specific T-cell response in community-dwelling older adults after influenza virus infection. We demonstrate that, despite higher age, this group of older adults was capable of inducing influenza virus-specific antibody and T-cell responses. Moreover, receiving vaccination prior to infection further increased these immune responses. Importantly, individuals mounted antibody and T-cell responses to several different influenza virus strains, indicating cross-reactivity at both levels, despite mismatch between vaccine and infection strains. Unraveling the immune responses to influenza virus infection in older adults could inform new vaccine developments and strategies that may better protect the vulnerable older population from infection. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00407-26