Journal article

Hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies and protection against seasonal and pandemic influenza infection

A Fox, LQ Mai, LT Thanh, M Wolbers, N Le Khanh Hang, PQ Thai, NT Thu Yen, LN Minh Hoa, JE Bryant, TN Duong, DD Thoang, IG Barr, H Wertheim, J Farrar, NT Hien, P Horby

Journal of Infection | Published : 2015

Abstract

Objectives: Hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies correlate with influenza vaccine protection but their association with protection induced by natural infection has received less attention and was studied here. Methods: 940 people from 270 unvaccinated households participated in active ILI surveillance spanning 3 influenza seasons. At least 494 provided paired blood samples spanning each season. Influenza infection was confirmed by RT-PCR on nose/throat swabs or serum HI assay conversion. Results: Pre-season homologous HI titer was associated with a significantly reduced risk of infection for H3N2 (OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.44-0.84) and B (0.65, 95%CI 0.54-0.80) strains, but not H1N1 strains, w..

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University of Melbourne Researchers