TY - JOUR
T1 - Anti-neuraminidase and anti-HA stalk antibodies reduce the susceptibility to and infectivity of influenza A/H3N2 virus
AU - Hoy, Gregory
AU - Cortier, Thomas
AU - Maier, Hannah E.
AU - Kuan, Guillermina
AU - Lopez, Roger
AU - Sanchez, Nery
AU - Ojeda, Sergio
AU - Plazaola, Miguel
AU - Stadlbauer, Daniel
AU - Shotwell, Abigail
AU - Balmaseda, Angel
AU - Krammer, Florian
AU - Cauchemez, Simon
AU - Gordon, Aubree
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Immune responses against neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) are critical for developing effective influenza vaccines, yet their role in influenza transmission remains unclear. We conducted household transmission studies in Managua, Nicaragua, to assess the impact of anti-NA and anti-HA antibodies induced by natural infection on influenza A/H3N2 susceptibility and infectivity. Using mathematical models capturing household transmission dynamics, we found that high pre-existing antibody levels against the HA head (>31, [95% CrI 13–67]), HA stalk (>35, [95% CrI 11–66]), and NA (>31, [95% CrI 12–68]) are associated with reduced susceptibility to infection (relative susceptibility: HA head, 0.63 [95% CrI 0.42–0.98]; HA stalk, 0.66 [95% CrI 0.44–0.99]; NA, 0.49 [95% CrI 0.30–0.76]). HA stalk (>58 [95% CrI: 47–70]) and NA (>27 [95% CrI: 15–43]) are associated with reduced infectivity (relative infectivity: NA, 0.55 [95% CrI: 0.32–0.98], HA stalk 0.53 [95% CrI: 0.27–0.97]). These findings suggest that influenza vaccines designed to elicit NA immunity in addition to HA immunity may not only enhance protection against infection but also reduce onward transmission.
AB - Immune responses against neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) are critical for developing effective influenza vaccines, yet their role in influenza transmission remains unclear. We conducted household transmission studies in Managua, Nicaragua, to assess the impact of anti-NA and anti-HA antibodies induced by natural infection on influenza A/H3N2 susceptibility and infectivity. Using mathematical models capturing household transmission dynamics, we found that high pre-existing antibody levels against the HA head (>31, [95% CrI 13–67]), HA stalk (>35, [95% CrI 11–66]), and NA (>31, [95% CrI 12–68]) are associated with reduced susceptibility to infection (relative susceptibility: HA head, 0.63 [95% CrI 0.42–0.98]; HA stalk, 0.66 [95% CrI 0.44–0.99]; NA, 0.49 [95% CrI 0.30–0.76]). HA stalk (>58 [95% CrI: 47–70]) and NA (>27 [95% CrI: 15–43]) are associated with reduced infectivity (relative infectivity: NA, 0.55 [95% CrI: 0.32–0.98], HA stalk 0.53 [95% CrI: 0.27–0.97]). These findings suggest that influenza vaccines designed to elicit NA immunity in addition to HA immunity may not only enhance protection against infection but also reduce onward transmission.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024658231
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-65283-0
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-65283-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 41381433
AN - SCOPUS:105024658231
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 16
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 10910
ER -