Influenza Immunology

Globally, seasonal influenza affects around a billion people annually. While existing vaccines are effective in preventing influenza and reducing its severity, they are more effective for some populations than others. Understanding this variability will help in optimising seasonal influenza vaccine formulations, as well as enhancing our readiness against potential influenza pandemics.

This project dissects the different immune responses caused by influenza vaccinations compared to natural infections, with a particular focus on the behaviour of B cells in the human immune system. Ultimately, our goal is to maximise immune protection while minimising adverse responses, which will significantly improve public health strategies for influenza management. We conducted a transcriptomics analysis, specifically using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), to investigate the behaviour of B cells in the human immune system after an influenza vaccination as opposed to a natural influenza infection. For this study, libraries of human immune cells were prepared to provide a comprehensive view of cellular responses. This approach allowed us to observe the immune response at single-cell resolution, revealing the workings of individual B cells in the context of influenza exposure.