Publications by authors named "Jocelyn G Labombarde"
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are critical for managing autoimmunity such as multiple sclerosis (MS), yet concerns exist regarding their impact on viral infections. B-cell depletion (α-CD20) and IFN-β are 2 DMTs with seemingly opposing effects on viral infections. Pre-vaccine COVID-19 data linked B-cell depletion to worse outcomes, while IFN-β is believed to offer protection to viral infection.
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- Infection and vaccination lead to the creation of antibodies against various influenza virus subtypes, but most antibodies target variable epitopes rather than conserved ones.
- The study reveals that producing broadly reactive antibodies against flu can increase autoimmune responses in both humans and mice, worsening autoimmune diseases.
- The findings suggest that mechanisms that promote self-tolerance are crucial in limiting these broadly reactive antibodies, which can contribute to disease when inflammation or autoimmune risks are present.
Enhancing the generation of broadly reactive antibodies against influenza A virus (IAV) is a pertinent goal toward developing a universal IAV vaccine. While antibodies that bind conserved IAV epitopes have been identified in humans, antibodies specific for the variable epitopes are much more prevalent than antibodies recognizing conserved epitopes. It is important to define the factors that limit the generation of broadly reactive IAV antibodies in order to develop an effective universal IAV vaccine.
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