Korea University Study Shows mRNA Vaccine May Broaden Flu Antibody Responses
News related to:Korea University College of Medicine · 2 min read
SEOUL, South Korea, A new study from Korea University College of Medicine has revealed that an mRNA influenza vaccine may generate broader and more durable antibody responses compared to a conventional split-virion vaccine. The research, published in Nature Immunology, could have significant implications for the development of more effective influenza vaccines.
The study, led by Associate Professor Jiwon Lee in the Department of Convergence Medicine and Vaccine Innovation Center, examined the investigational quadrivalent mRNA-1010 vaccine in comparison to the licensed Fluarix vaccine. Over two influenza seasons, the team followed 75 healthy adults aged 20-50, with 38 receiving the mRNA-1010 vaccine and 37 receiving Fluarix. Blood samples were collected over 26 weeks, and a subset underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of draining axillary lymph nodes to assess germinal-center responses.
The findings indicated that the mRNA vaccine elicited a substantially more diverse and broader serum antibody repertoire than Fluarix. Most notably, influenza-specific germinal-center responses persisted for up to 26 weeks in five out of 13 recipients of the mRNA-1010 vaccine, while no such responses were detected among Fluarix recipients. The mRNA vaccine also increased the diversity of the serum IgG repertoire and promoted diversification of pre-existing B-cell lineages through somatic hypermutation.
These changes were associated with broader antibody binding across antigenically diverse influenza strains and greater increases in neutralization titers against 11 of 13 A/H1N1 viruses tested. Dr. Lee explained, "The mRNA platform does not simply produce more antibodies; it produces a more diversified antibody response, which leads to greater binding and neutralizing breadth."
A key strength of the study was the use of Ig-Seq, a mass-spectrometry-based technology that identifies individual antibody clonotypes circulating in the blood after vaccination. This allowed the researchers to resolve the antibody response down to individual antibody clonotypes, providing molecular-level information that conventional bulk antibody measurements could not capture.
The study highlights the potential of mRNA technology to generate broader, more durable influenza immunity by sustaining germinal-center activity and supporting continued B-cell evolution. However, further research is needed to determine whether these responses translate into multi-season protection or longer vaccination intervals. The authors also noted that these benefits may not be maintained in older adults or immunocompromised populations, whose immune responses may differ from those of healthy younger adults.
Dr. Lee concluded, "Persistent germinal-center responses and molecular tools like Ig-Seq could help guide the development of influenza vaccines designed to generate broader antibody responses against an evolving virus."
The research underscores the potential of mRNA technology in vaccine development, potentially leading to more effective and long-lasting protection against influenza.