A structural explanation for the low effectiveness of the seasonal influenza H3N2 vaccine

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 13; no. 10; p. e1006682
• Main Authors: Wu, Nicholas C., Zost, Seth J., Thompson, Andrew J., Oyen, David, Nycholat, Corwin M., McBride, Ryan, Paulson, James C., Hensley, Scott E., Wilson, Ian A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.10.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amino Acid Substitution; Analysis; Antibodies; Antigenicity; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - chemistry; Antigens, Viral - immunology; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Binding sites; Biology; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Clinical isolates; Eggs; electron density; enzyme-linked immunoassays; Funding; Glycoproteins; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - chemistry; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - immunology; Hemagglutinins; Humans; Immune system; Immunoglobulins; Influenza; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype - immunology; Influenza vaccines; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza viruses; Influenza, Human - immunology; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Neutralization; Physical Sciences; Public health; Receptors; Research and Analysis Methods; Seasons; Software; Structural analysis; Vaccine efficacy; Vaccines; viral vaccines; Viruses; La Jolla California; United States > US

The effectiveness of the annual influenza vaccine has declined in recent years, especially for the H3N2 component, and is a concern for global public health. A major cause for this lack in effectiveness has been attributed to the egg-based vaccine production process. Substitutions on the hemagglutin...