Adaptive immune receptors recognizing influenza antigens

Adaptive immune receptors recognizing influenza antigens comprise the diverse population of B-cell receptors (BCRs) and T-cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically bind to influenza virus proteins. These receptors are central to the host's defense; BCRs (and their secreted antibody forms) primarily target the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) to neutralize viral entry and egress (Krammer, 2019, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). TCRs recognize viral peptides, such as those from the matrix (M1) or nucleoprotein (NP), presented on the surface of infected cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules to initiate cell-mediated destruction (La Gruta et al., 2007, Nature Reviews Immunology). In therapeutic development, these receptors serve as the blueprint for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and the primary goal of universal vaccine strategies aimed at inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against conserved epitopes (Andrews et al., 2015, Science Translational Medicine). The high mutational plasticity of influenza, known as antigenic drift and shift, presents a significant challenge, as it allows the virus to escape recognition by existing receptor repertoires. Consequently, research focuses on identifying and eliciting receptors that target the conserved stem region of HA or other invariant viral components to provide cross-strain protection.

Other names

B-cell receptors (BCRs)T-cell receptors (TCRs)Anti-influenza antibodiesInfluenza-specific immunoglobulinsInfluenza-specific TCRs

Neutralization of viral particles by blocking hemagglutinin-mediated attachment or neuraminidase-mediated release, and T-cell mediated lysis of infected cells (Krammer, 2019; La Gruta et al., 2007).