IFN-gene signatures in B cells following influenza A and B virus infection and influenza vaccination
- Author(s)
- Zhang, W; Allen, EK; Li, S; Tarasova, I; Farrukee, R; Kedzierski, L; Gilbertson, B; McQuilten, HA; Habel, JR; Allen, LF; Rockman, S; Londrigan, SL; Kent, SJ; Wheatley, AK; Trubiano, JA; Kotsimbos, TC; Cheng, AC; Schroeder, J; Crawford, JC; Thomas, PG; Kedzierska, K; Nguyen, THO;
- Journal Title
- EMBO Molecular Medicine
- Publication Type
- Mar 9
- Abstract
- Influenza viruses continue to cause a substantial global disease burden. Despite influenza vaccination, some individuals succumb to life-threatening influenza or death. Yet our understanding of immune features elicited by vaccination and influenza A and B virus (IAV, IBV) infection is limited. To define molecular signatures of influenza-specific B-cells, we performed scRNA-sequencing of influenza-specific B-cells in vaccinees and hospitalized IAV/IBV-infected patients using HA-probes. We observed increased interferon-stimulated gene signatures (IF44L, IFITM1 and XAF1), in total B-cells from IBV-patients, but not at 1-month following patients' recovery or in IAV-patients or vaccinees. Phenotypic differentiation and isotype class-switching of HA-specific B-cells were observed following vaccination, with clonal sharing between memory and atypical B-cell phenotypes. In-vitro influenza virus infection experiments showed IBVs having higher infectivity of human PBMCs, including B-cells, and reduced B-cell proliferation compared to IAV, potentially associated with antiproliferative effect of IFITM1. We provide key insights into B-cell immunity towards IBV and IAV infections and vaccination, which will inform rational vaccine design and therapeutic strategies aimed at eliciting robust HA-specific B-cell responses, while minimizing adverse effects caused by natural infection.
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Keywords
- Bcr; Influenza vaccination; Influenza virus infection; atypical B cells; influenza-specific B cells
- Research Division(s)
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- PubMed ID
- 41803327
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-026-00395-8
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-026-00395-8- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2026-03-16 01:38:29
Last Modified: 2026-03-16 01:52:35