Diversity of antibody responses after influenza infection or vaccination—Needed or nice to have?

Gärtner, Barbara C.; Sester, Martina

Influenza is a major threat in solid organ transplant recipients with significant morbidity and mortality (1). Yearly vaccination is therefore key to convey protection towards the circulating strains, and to prevent severe disease. In addition, natural exposure and regular vaccination may contribute to an increasing diversity of the immune response by accumulation of cross-protective immunological memory towards different strains. Unfortunately, vaccination in transplant recipients is challenging due to suboptimal vaccine efficacy which is significantly lower than in the general population (1). Thus, efforts towards improving vaccine responses will benefit from a detailed knowledge on the diversity of the immune response conveyed by vaccines or natural infection.