Broadly inhibiting anti-neuraminidase monoclonal antibodies induced by trivalent influenza vaccine and H7N9 infection in humans

Abstract

AbstractThe majority of antibodies induced by influenza neuraminidase (NA), like those against hemagglutinin (HA), are relatively specific to viruses isolated within a limited time-window as seen in serological studies and the analysis of many murine monoclonal antibodies. We report three broadly reactive human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting N1 NA. Two were isolated from a young adult vaccinated with trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV), which inhibited N1 NA from viruses isolated from human over a period of a hundred years. The third antibody isolated from a child with acute mild H7N9 infection inhibited both group 1 N1 and group 2 N9 NAs. In addition, the antibodies cross-inhibited the N1 NAs of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses. These antibodies are protective in prophylaxis against seasonal H1N1 viruses in mice. This study demonstrates that human antibodies to N1 NA with exceptional cross-reactivity can be recalled by vaccination and highlights the importance of standardizing the NA antigen in seasonal vaccines to offer optimal protection.ImportanceAntibodies to the influenza NA can provide protection against influenza disease. Analysis of human antibodies to NA lags behind that for HA. We show that human monoclonal antibodies against NA induced by vaccination and infection can be very broadly reactive and able to inhibit a wide spectrum of N1 NAs between 1918 and 2018. This suggests that antibodies to NA may be a useful therapy, and that efficacy of influenza vaccines could be enhanced by ensuring appropriate content of NA antigen.Highlights of the paperAntibodies that inhibit influenza viruses with N1 neuraminidase (NA), with broad reactivity for viruses isolated between 1918-2018, can be isolated from human recipients of seasonal influenza vaccineAntibodies targeting N1 NA of human seasonal H1N1 viruses can cross-react with a variety of avian N1 neuraminidasesAcute H7N9 infection can recall memory B cells to N1 NA and elicit cross-reactive antibodies to the group 1 N1 and group 2 N9 NAsAntibodies to N1 NA with this broad reactivity protect against lethal virus challenge