Antibody responses to avian influenza viruses in wild birds broaden with age

Hill, S C; Manvell, R J; Schulenburg, B; Shell, W; Wikramaratna, P S; Perrins, C; Sheldon, B C; Brown, I H; Pybus, O G

Abstract

For viruses such as avian influenza, immunity within a host population can drive the emergence of new strains by selecting for viruses with novel antigens that avoid immune recognition. The accumulation of acquired immunity with age is hypothesized to affect how influenza viruses emerge and spread in species of different lifespans. Despite its importance for understanding the behaviour of avian influenza viruses, little is known about age-related accumulation of immunity in the virus's primary reservoir, wild birds. To address this, we studied the age structure of immune responses to avian influenza virus in a wild swan population (Cygnus olor), before and after the population experienced an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in 2008. We performed haemagglutination inhibition assays on sampled sera for five avian influenza strains and show that breadth of response accumulates with age. The observed age-related distribution of antibody responses to avian influenza strains may explain the age-dependent mortality observed during the highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak. Age structures and species lifespan are probably important determinants of viral epidemiology and virulence in birds.

Citation

Hill, S. C., Manvell, R. J., Schulenburg, B., Shell, W., Wikramaratna, P. S., Perrins, C., Sheldon, B. C., Brown, I. H., & Pybus, O. G. (2016). Antibody responses to avian influenza viruses in wild birds broaden with age. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2159

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 28, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 6, 2019
• Journal: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 283
• Issue: 1845
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2159
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1394644