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Antibody Response to Flu Shaped by Pre-Existing Immunity

Receiving the seasonal flu vaccine each year, in addition to seasonal infections, exposes people to a lifetime of building up immune responses to influenza antigens. Yet, it remains unclear whether infection and vaccination induce distinct influenza-specific immunological memory. A team led by researchers at the University of Chicago compared antibodies produced by individuals after influenza infection or vaccination. The authors found that 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.

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