Neutralizing antibody responses against contemporary and future influenza A(H3N2) viruses in paradoxical clades elicited by repeated and single vaccinations.

ABSTRACT

As one of the most effective measures to prevent seasonal influenza viruses, annual influenza vaccination is globally recommended. Nevertheless, evidence regarding the impact of repeated vaccination to contemporary and future influenza has been inconclusive. A total of 100 subjects singly or repeatedly immunized with influenza vaccines including 3C.2a1 or 3C.3a1 A(H3N2) during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 influenza season were recruited. We investigated neutralization antibody by microneutralization assay using four antigenically distinct A(H3N2) viruses circulating from 2018 to 2023, and tracked the dynamics of B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire for consecutive vaccinations. We found that vaccination elicited cross-reactive antibody responses against future emerging strains. Broader neutralizing antibodies to A(H3N2) viruses and more diverse BCR repertoires were observed in the repeated vaccination. Meanwhile, a higher frequency of BCR sequences shared among the repeated-vaccinated individuals with consistently boosting antibody response was found than those with a reduced antibody response. Our findings suggest that repeated seasonal vaccination could broaden the breadth of antibody responses, which may improve vaccine protection against future emerging viruses.