Immune Imprinting and Vaccines: Rethinking the First Exposure to Influenza

<p>Immune imprinting refers to how the immune system's first encounter with a virus, such as influenza, leaves a lasting imprint that shapes future immune responses.^1,2 However, influenza vaccines may affect this process—particularly when egg-based ones are used. Tune in to learn about the impact of immune imprinting, the role that vaccines play in this process, and how switching to non-egg-based vaccines could help redirect immune responses and possibly create more effective defenses in people of all ages.^3,4</p> <p><strong>References:</strong></p> <ol> <li>King SM, Bryan SP, Hilchey SP, Wang J, Zand MS. First impressions matter: Immune imprinting and antibody cross-reactivity in influenza and SARS-CoV-2. <i>Pathogens</i>. 2023;12(2):169. doi:10.3390/pathogens12020169</li> <li>Zhang A, Stacey HD, Mullarkey CE, Miller MS. Original antigenic sin: How first exposure shapes lifelong anti-influenza virus immune responses.<i> J Immunol</i>. 2019;202(2):335–34...