Influenza B-specific CD8+ T Cells Directed Against Conserved Internal Proteins Cross-React with Influenza A Variants
Influenza B-specific CD8+ T Cells Directed Against Conserved Internal Proteins Cross-React with Influenza A Variants
About Me
My name is Djurre, and I am a Biology major with a biochemistry emphasis from Norway and the Netherlands. My primary interest is immunology, leading me to work in Dr. Mudd’s immunology lab at Washington University in St. Louis last summer. We studied the immune system's response to the influenza virus in the hopes of creating a more broadly effective and long-lasting vaccine. After Mac, I hope to go into animal-free immunology research and eventually pursue a PhD in this field. In my spare time, I enjoy rowing, snowboarding, and playing in Macalester’s Gamelan group!
Abstract
Current Influenza vaccines rely primarily on immunity provided by B cells and the antibodies they produce, but there are limitations to this approach. Antibodies are only able to respond to the external proteins of the Influenza virus, which mutate rapidly and cause vaccines to lose effectiveness with each new flu season. T cells, however, are the only part of our adaptive immune system capable of detecting both internal and external viral proteins. Internal proteins of the Influenza virus have been found to be more conserved between seasons and between strains, making T cells a promising avenue for future vaccine development. However, it remains unclear which epitopes (specific parts of proteins) of the Influenza virus would be the most effective to target in a T cell-based Influenza vaccine. My research focused on identifying epitopes that are conserved enough between major strains of the Influenza virus to activate the same T cells, in order to ensure a robust immune response against multiple strains. Specifically, I studied whether T cells that respond to Influenza B would be able to respond to analogous epitope variations in Influenza A. Results indicate strong levels of cross-reactivity, and one epitope was identified as a potential candidate for future vaccine development.