Interrogating B cell immunity to influenza vaccines

Summary This project will utilise advanced microscopy and flow cytometry-based techniques to interrogate influenza-specific B cell responses (memory B cells, antibodies) to infection and immunisation in both relevant animal models of human influenza, and human clinical samples. Insights will be used to guide the design and testing of novel influenza vaccine concepts in animal models.

Project Details

Influenza remains a persistent threat to human health, with current vaccines eliciting sub-optimal and transient protection from infection. Mechanistically, vaccine protection is afforded by antibodies targeting a cluster of highly variable sites in the viral entry protein hemagglutinin (HA). However, next-generation vaccines seek to expand immune recognition to alternative sites within HA, or alternative viral proteins, in order to increase protective breadth. This project will utilise advanced microscopy and flow cytometry-based techniques to interrogate influenza-specific B cell responses (memory B cells, antibodies) to infection and immunisation in both relevant animal models of human influenza, and human clinical samples. Insights will be used to guide the design and testing of novel influenza vaccine concepts in animal models.