Researchers report that adding certain infection-derived antibodies to current influenza vaccines could both reduce illness and lower onward transmission from infected people. The study singles out antibodies to neuraminidase (NA) and to two regions of hemagglutinin—the HA head and the HA stalk—as providing an important additional layer of community protection. Aubree Gordon, a co-senior author, says NA has been relatively overlooked in vaccine design despite its role in lowering infection risk and contagiousness.
The multinational team followed 171 households and 664 contacts in Nicaragua across the 2014, 2016 and 2017 influenza seasons. Almost all participants had never received a flu vaccine, which let the researchers observe transmission mainly driven by infection-acquired immunity. They combined blood tests, virologic testing and mathematical modelling to identify which antibodies most effectively limited spread within households.
The study, published in Nature Communications and funded by the National Institutes of Health, appears as public health officials warn of a potentially severe flu season and report the first deaths of the 2025–2026 Northern Hemisphere season. The authors note that modifying vaccines to include NA antibodies could protect infants, immunocompromised people and others who do not mount strong responses to current vaccines, and could be important during a pandemic.
- Methods: blood tests, virologic testing, modelling
- Key antibodies: NA, HA head, HA stalk
- Implication: stronger, longer-lasting vaccines
Difficult words
- antibody — protein made by the immune systemantibodies
- neuraminidase — a viral surface enzyme involved in spread
- hemagglutinin — a viral surface protein that helps entry
- transmission — the process of passing an infection between people
- contagiousness — how easily a disease spreads from person to person
- immunocompromised — having a weaker immune system than typical
- modelling — using mathematical methods to estimate disease spread
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could including neuraminidase antibodies in vaccines change protection for infants and immunocompromised people? Give reasons.
- What practical challenges might public health officials face when modifying vaccines to include additional antibodies?
- The study followed mostly unvaccinated households. How might that study design affect how its results apply to populations with high vaccination rates?
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