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New research by scientists at the University of Chicago suggests a person s antibody response to influenza viruses is dramatically shaped by their pre-existing immunity, and that the quality of this response differs in individuals who are vaccinated or naturally infected. Their results highlight the importance of receiving the annual flu vaccine to induce the most protective immune response.
The researchers found that most of the initial antibodies stimulated after both influenza infections and influenza vaccinations came from old B cells a type of white blood cell that secretes antibodies indicating the immune system s memory plays a major role in how the body responds early on to a viral infection. These antibodies displayed higher reactivity toward strains of influenza that circulated during an individual s childhood compared to more recent strains.