141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

288090
Mucosal antibody response in influenza infected children

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 11:14 AM - 11:32 AM

Ira Tigner Jr., Graduate Researcher , Department of Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Sook-San Wong, Ph.D. , Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Richard Webby, Ph.D. , Department of Infectious Diseases, Memphis, TN
Seasonal influenza virus infections in humans cause annual epidemics that result in millions of human infections worldwide and have significant health and economic burdens (Molinari, N.A. et al, 2007). The 2009 H1N1 pandemic caused 86,000,000 persons to be infected and 19,000 deaths. Pandemic influenza causes viruses to undergo antigenic shifts, therefore individuals can have numerous influenza infections during their lifetime. As a result of the H1N1 strains' antigenic shift, vaccines are reformulated annually. Low robust immunities make children and the elderly a primary target to influenza. The immunological response, especially at the site of infection, in a naturally-infected influenza patient has not been well characterized. The overall aim of the study was to examine the mucosal antibody response to influenza during the course of a natural infection. We used the nasal lavages of participants enrolled in a clinical study (FLU09) based at the Le Bonheur's Children Hospital in Memphis, TN. These patients were previously confirmed to be infected with the pandemic strain of H1N1. We determined the level of influenza-specific IgA and IgG against the major antigenic protein, hemagglutinin (HA) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that influenza-specific IgA and IgG were detectable in the nasal compartment as early as upon enrollment and showed age-specific trends in the kinetics of antibody response. In summary, we have developed a method to detect influenza-specific antibody at the site of infection and showed age-specific antibody response.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Epidemiology
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the antibody responses to influenza virus infection at the site of infection. Analyze the best methods to detect virus infection at the site of infection. Compare the antibody response profile amongst different age groups.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was given the opportunity to perform this research this past summer.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.