Abstract
The conserved protective epitopes of hemagglutinin (HA) are essential to the design of a universal influenza vaccine and new targeted therapeutic agents. Over the last 15 years, numerous broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting the HA of influenza A viruses have been isolated from B lymphocytes of human donors and mouse models, and their binding epitopes identified. This work has brought new perspectives for identifying conserved protective epitopes of HA. In this review, we succinctly analyzed and summarized the antigenic epitopes and functions of more than 70 kinds of bnAb. The highly conserved protective epitopes are concentrated on five regions of HA: the hydrophobic groove, the receptor-binding site, the occluded epitope region of the HA monomers interface, the fusion peptide region, and the vestigial esterase subdomain. Our analysis clarifies the distribution of the conserved protective epitope regions on HA and provides distinct targets for the design of novel vaccines and therapeutics to combat influenza A virus infection.
Introduction
Influenza A viruses are negative-sense RNA viruses, belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Their genome consists of eight single-stranded negative-sense RNA fragments, that encode 10 essential proteins. Currently, 18 different hemagglutinin (HA) (H1–H18) and 11 different neuraminidase (NA) (N1–N11) subtypes have been identified or detected (). Influenza A viruses evolve rapidly and can cause pandemics and epidemics of acute respiratory disease in domestic poultry, lower mammals, and humans, continuously challenging the poultry industry and human health (). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), annual influenza epidemics result in an estimated about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths worldwide (). Influenza A viruses have also caused pandemics, including the 1918 H1N1, 1957 H2N2, 1968 H3N2 and 2009 H1N1 pandemics, which caused millions of human deaths (–). Occasionally, zoonotic influenza A subtypes, such as H5Nx and H7N9, also infect humans through cross-species transmission, with a mortality rate of up to 52% ().
Vaccination remains the best strategy for preventing influenza infections. Currently, vaccines are available against seasonal influenza viruses, the vaccines contain either three (trivalent) or four (tetravalent) influenza virus components, and are formulated every year based on worldwide influenza surveillance (). However, the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines is often quite low, only 10%–60% for the influenza seasons from 2004 to 2020 (). Two types of influenza antiviral drugs that target the viral membrane protein (M2) ion channel and inhibitors of NA also have been approved for prophylaxis and therapy. However, the use of these antivirals is still limited (). Therefore, a universal influenza vaccine that can elicit more broadly cross-reactive and long-term protection, and novel therapeutic agents would be highly desirable. Since HA is the most important and abundant surface glycoprotein of influenza viruses and the target of almost all neutralizing antibodies (), the HA protein is a major target for the development of universal influenza vaccine and therapeutic agents.
Over the last 15 years, numerous broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that cross-react and neutralize a wide range of subtype HAs of influenza viruses have been isolated from B lymphocytes of human donors and mouse models, and the epitopes recognized by these antibodies have mapped through the use of escape mutants and Cryo-electron microscopy. These works have figured out the conserved protective epitope region of HA, and provide hope for development of universal influenza vaccines and new targeted therapeutic agents. Multiple efforts have therefore been made to develop broad-spectrum, universal vaccines, such as sequential vaccination with chimeric HA (, ), and HA stem-based immunogens (–). At the same time, several bnAbs themselves have been used as passive immunotherapy (). In addition, guided by structural knowledge of the interactions and mechanism of bnAb, series of therapeutic agents such as small proteins, peptides and molecules have been designed to mimic the function of bnAb (–). Here, we analyzed and summarized the antigenic epitopes and functions of more than 70 kinds of bnAbs reported since 1980s. Our analysis clarifies the distribution of the conserved protective epitope regions on HA and provides new insights for the design of novel vaccines and therapeutics against influenza A virus infections.
Overview of the HA protein
The structure of HA was identified in 1981 (). Although the amino acid sequence homology of different subtype HAs can be as low as about 40%, HA always adopts the same protein folding and its architecture is highly conserved (). However, the surface properties and glycosylation patterns of HA vary extensively between influenza subtypes. Influenza A viruses are divided into two phylogenic groups based on their HA, group 1 (H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16, H17 and H18 subtypes) and group 2 (H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, and H15 subtypes) (, ). Group 1 HAs has similar stem structures, whereas group 2 HAs display intra-group similarity in the stem (). Mature HA is a trimer composed of three identical monomeric subunits () (Figure 1A). Every monomeric HA is synthesized as an immature single polypeptide chain (HA0) in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is cleaved at its cleavage site by host cell proteases to yield two subunits, HA1 and HA2, which are linked via a single disulfide bond (). Each HA monomer subunit is divided into a head domain and a stem domain. The membrane-distal globular head domain composed of HA1, and contains the receptor-binding (RB) subdomain and the vestigial esterase (VE) subdomain (Figures 1A, B, C, H). The membrane-proximal stem domain is primarily composed of HA2 with some HA1 residues, and contains the F’ subdomains, the F subdomain, and the fusion peptide subdomain () (Figures 1A, D–H). The head domain mediates attachment of the virus to host cell surface receptors, and the stem domain mediates liberation of the viral genome into the cytoplasm through membrane fusion.
Figure 1
The receptor-binding site (RBS) is a shallow hydrophobic pocket at the tip of the RB subdomain, and comprises four secondary structural elements: the 130-loop, the 150-loop, the 190-helix, and the 220-loop (Figures 1A–C). Several key residues in the base of the pocket that interact with sialic acid (SA) are conserved, including W153, H183, L194, and Y195 (
The stem domain anchors HA in the viral envelope. After HA binding to the host cell receptor, endocytosis transports the influenza viral particle to the endosome, where the low pH triggers conformational changes in HA2 that mediate fusion of the viral and endosomal membranes and release of the viral genome into the cytoplasm, establishing the onset of the replication cycle (
Conserved protective epitopes on the head domain of HA
Despite the higher variation in the HA head domain, a series of bnAbs capable of binding and neutralizing multiple subtypes or subtype-specific influenza A virus were isolated. Their protective epitopes on the HA head domain are mainly concentrated in three regions: the RBS pocket and its surrounding area, the VE subdomain, and the occluded epitope region, which is hidden in the HA monomer interface of HA1. Anti-head bnAbs generally inhibit virus attachment to the host cell receptor, thereby blocking viral entry (
Epitopes of the RBS pocket and surrounding area
Residues at the rim of the RBS pocket are highly conserved, and the reactive breadth of bnAbs targeting the RBS is limited by the region of epitopes beyond the RBS pocket. Most of these antibodies show hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) activity (
Of the bnAbs that bind to the RBS pocket, the following seven possess cross-group or cross-subtype binding or neutralizing activities: S139/1 (
Table 1
| Location | Antibody name | Binding breadth in vitro | Neutralizing breadth in vitro | Protection breadth in vivo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBS | S139/1M ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9, H13, H16/H3 | H1, H2, H13, H16/H3 | H1/H3 |
| C05H ( | H1, H2, H9, H12/H3 | H1, H2, H9/H3 | H1/H3 | |
| F045-092H ( | H1, H2, H5, H13/H3 | H1, H2, H5/H3 | – | |
| K03.12H ( | H1/H3 | – | – | |
| 2G1H ( | H2/H3 | H2 | H2 | |
| FE17H ( | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | |
| 12H5M ( | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | |
| 1F1H ( | H1 | H1 | H1 | |
| 5J8H ( | H1 | H1 | H1 | |
| CH65H ( | H1 | H1 | – | |
| CH67H ( | H1 | H1 | – | |
| H2526H ( | H1 | NO | – | |
| 641I-9H ( | H1 | H1 | – | |
| 3D11M ( | H1 | H1 | H1 | |
| 8M2H ( | H2 | H2 | H2 | |
| 8F8H ( | H2 | H2 | H2 | |
| HC63M ( | H3 | – | – | |
| A2.91.3M ( | H3 | H3 | – | |
| AVFlulgG03H ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| FLD21.140H ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| 13D4M ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| HAb21M ( | H5 | H5 | – | |
| H5.3H ( | H5 | H5 | – | |
| CR8033H ( | B | B | B | |
| VE subdomain | PR8-23M ( | H1 | H1 | – |
| H3v-47H ( | H3 | H3 | H3 | |
| F005-126H ( | H3 | H3 | – | |
| A2.4.1M ( | H3 | H3 | – | |
| H5M9M ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| 9F4M ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| HA-7M ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| 100F4H ( | H5 | H5 | H5 | |
| 4F5H ( | H5 | H5 | H5* | |
| 1H5M ( | H7 | NO | H7 | |
| 1H10M ( | H7 | NO | H7 | |
| CR8071H ( | B | B | B | |
| HA monomers interface | FluA-20H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12/H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | NO | H1, H5/H3, H7 |
| S5V2-29H ( | H1, H2, H9/H3, H4, H7, H14 | NO | H1/H3 | |
| H2214H ( | H1, H2/H3, H4, H14 | NO | H1/H3 | |
| 8H10M ( | H3, H4 | – | H3 | |
| FL-1066M ( | H3, H4 | – | – | |
| H7-200 H ( | H7, H15 | NO | H7 | |
| H7.5H ( | H7 | H7 | – |
Characteristics of broadly neutralizing antibody binding to the HA head domain.
H human antibody; M murine antibody; B, influenza B viruses; NO, no activity; -, no information; RBS, receptor-binding site; VE subdomain, vestigial esterase subdomain.
Binding breadth in vitro, cross-react with expressed different HA proteins or viruses in vitro.
Neutralizing breadth in vitro, effectively neutralize and cross-neutralize different influenza viruses in cells.
Protection breadth in vivo, effectively preventing and/or therapeutic efficacy against influenza virus infection in mouse animal models, with an exception “*” chicken embryo used as model.
Figure 2

Conserved epitopes of the HA head domain. HA1 is shown in white, HA2 in gray. (A, B) are epitope footprints of cross-subtype bnAbs binding to the RBS. (A) H3 HA (PDB ID: 4FNK) as a model, the epitope of F045-092 (PDB ID: 4O58) is all overlapped shown in red, the non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (S139/1, PDB ID:4GMS), dark blue (C05, PDB ID:4FQR), and green (K03.12, PDB ID: 5W08), respectively. (B) H2 HA (PDB ID: 4HLZ) as a model, the epitope of 2G1 (PDB ID: 4HG4). (C–F) are epitope footprints of subtype specific bnAbs binding to the RBS. (C) H1 HA (PDB ID: 4M4Y) as a model, the epitopes of 5J8 (PDB ID:4M5Z) and 1F1 (PDB ID: 4GXU) are overlapped in red. The non-overlapping residues are shown in dark blue (CH65, PDB ID: 5UGY), light purple (CH67, PDB ID: 4HKX), yellow (H2526, PDB ID: 4YJZ), blue-green (641I-9, PDB ID: 4YK4), respectively. (D) H2 HA (PDB ID: 4HLZ) as a model, the epitope of 8M2 (PDB ID: 4HFU). (E) H3 HA (PDB ID: 4FNK) as a model, the epitope of HC63 (PDB ID: 1KEN). (F) H5 HA (PDB ID: 4MHH) as a model, the epitope of AVFlulgG03 (PDB ID: 5DUP) is overlapped in red. The non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (FLD21.140, PDB ID: 6A67), green (13D4, PDB ID: 6A0Z), and dark blue (H5.3, PDB ID: 4XNM), respectively. (G, H) are epitope footprints of bnAbs binding to the VE subdomain. (G) H3 HA (PDB ID: 4FNK) as a model, non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (H3v-47, PDB ID: 5W42) and green (F005-126, PDB ID: 3WHE). (H) H5 HA (PDB ID: 4MHH) as a model, non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (H5M9, PDB ID: 4MHH) and green (100F4, PDB ID:5DUR). (I) Epitope footprint of bnAbs binding to the occluded epitope region of the HA monomers interface. H3 HA (PDB ID: 2VIU) as a model, non-overlapping residues are shown in green (FluA20, PDB ID: 6OCB), dark blue (S5V2-29, PDB ID:6E4X), and light purple (H2214, PDB ID: 6E56), respectively.
Compared with the above-mentioned bnAbs, more bnAbs with subtype-specific reactivity have been reported and identified, including: the H1 subtype-specific antibodies 1F1 (
The 1F1 antibody was isolated from a 1918 influenza pandemic survivor, aged 91–101 years (2–12 years in 1918), inhibits and neutralizes human H1 viruses (1918, 1930, 1943 and 1977 isolate strains), and protects mice from lethal challenge with 1918 H1 virus (
Like 2G1, antibodies 8M2 and 8F8 were isolated from 1957 H2N2 pandemic healthy donors; however, 8M2 and 8F8 only react with human H2N2 viruses and a swine H2N3 strain (
Antibodies AVFluIgG03, FLD21.140, 13D4, HAb21, and H5.3 have widely cross-neutralizing activity with different clade of H5N1 viruses, and 13D4 protects mice against lethal challenge with H5N1 viruses of clades 1, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3, even at the stage of infection when H5N1 virus has disseminated beyond the pulmonary system (
Till now, a series of viral attachment inhibitors have been developed targeting RBS, such as PAA-YDS (
Epitopes of the VE subdomain
BnAbs binding the VE subdomain only possess subtype-specific neutralizing activity. They include: the H1 subtype-specific antibody PR8-23 (
Antibody H3v-47 exhibits potent neutralizing activity against multiple human and swine H3N2 viruses that circulated from 1989 to 2014. The H3v-47 epitope spans the VE and RB subdomains (
Antibody H5M9 can neutralize different clades of H5N1 viruses (Clades 0, 1, 2.3.4, and 7), and protects mice from lethal H5N1 viral challenge both prophylactically and therapeutically in vivo (
Antibodies 1H5 and 1H10 can bind to a wide range of H7 strains, but lack HAI and neutralizing activity in vitro. Both antibodies can engage Fc-FcγR responses, and provide protection in vivo upon passive transfer in the mouse model (
Epitopes of the occluded epitope region of the HA monomer interface
During the adsorption and endocytosis of influenza virus, HA can undergo spontaneous and reversible transitions between multiple conformations. Acidification and receptor binding can shift the dynamic equilibrium of HA conformation (
Antibody FluA-20 shows extraordinary reactive breadth and affinity for recombinant HA trimers from subtypes H1 through H15, except for H13, and protects mice from lethal challenge with group 1 and group 2 viruses when as prophylaxis or therapy. FluA-20 rapidly disrupts HA trimers, inhibits the cell-to-cell spread of virus, and mediates ADCC activity in vivo (
Conserved protective epitopes on the HA stem domain
In recent decades, tremendous effort has been invested in isolating and structurally characterizing bnAbs that target the HA stem domain. The conserved protective epitopes that these bnAbs recognize are mainly located in two regions: the hydrophobic groove and the fusion peptide. These bnAbs are generally encoded by a relatively restricted set of variable-heavy (VH) gene segments (
Epitopes of the hydrophobic groove region
Among the bnAbs that bind to the hydrophobic groove region, some exhibit extremely broad binding properties to all subtype HAs from H1 to H18 (cross-group). Many antibodies exhibit group 1 virus-specific reactivity, whereas only one antibody (SD36) exhibits group 2 virus-specific reactivity (
In 2008, antibody CR6261 was the first bnAb reported to exhibit group 1 and group 2 reactivity (
Table 2
| Location | Antibody name | Binding breadth in vitro | Neutralizing breadth in vitro | Protection breadth in vivo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrophobic Groove Region | FI6(FI6v3)H ( | H1-H16 | H1, H5/H3, H7 | H1, H5/H3* |
| CR6261H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9/H7/B | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9 | H1, H2, H5 | |
| 27F3H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16/H3, H7, H10/B | H1, H5, H6/H3, H7, H10 | – | |
| 3E1H ( | H1, H5, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H5, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H5 | |
| SD38L ( | H1, H2, H5/H3, H7, H10 | H1, H2, H5/H3, H7, H10 | – | |
| 39.29H ( | H1, H2, H5/H3, H7 | H1, H2/H3 | H1, H5/H3* | |
| CT149H ( | H1, H5, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H5, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H5/H3, H7 | |
| 3I14H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H16/H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | H1, H5/H3, H7 | H5/H3, H7 | |
| 31.a.83H ( | H1, H2, H5, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H2, H5, H9/H3, H7 | – | |
| 56.a.09H ( | H1, H5/H3, H7 | H1, H5/H3, H7 | – | |
| CR9114H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H12, H13, H16/H3, H4, H7, H10, H15/B | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H12/H3, H4, H7, H10 | H1, H2/H3/B | |
| MEDI8852H ( | H1-H18 | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9/H3, H7 | H1, H5/H3* | |
| 05-2G02H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H13, H16, H17, H18/H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | H1, H5/H3 | H5 | |
| S9-1-10/5-1H ( | H1-H18 | H1, H5/H7 | H1, H5/H3, H7 | |
| 1.12H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H13, H17, H18/H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | H1-H15 | H1/H3 | |
| 28-12 H ( | H1, H6, H8, H9/H3, H4, H7, H14, | H1/H3, H4, H7 | H1/H3 | |
| C179M ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9 | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9 | H1, H5 | |
| F10H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H13, H16 | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11 | H1, H5 | |
| D8H and A66H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H9, H11, H13, H16 | H1, H2, H5, H6, H11 | H1, H5 | |
| 70-1F02H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H11, H12, H13, H16, H17, H18 | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | |
| 1009-3B05H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H13, H17, H18 | H1, H5 | H5 | |
| 09-3A01H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H8, H9, H13, H16, H17, H18 | H1, H5 | H5 | |
| Mab3.1H ( | H1, H2, H5, H6, H18 | H1, H2, H5, H6 | H1 | |
| A06H ( | H1, H5 | H1, H5 | H1 | |
| FE43H ( | H1, H5, H6, H9 | H1, H5, H6, H9 | H1, H5, H6 | |
| 4C2M ( | H1, H2, H5, H9 | H1, H2, H5, H9 | H1 | |
| 1H11H and 5G2H ( | H1, H5, H9 | H1, H5, H9 | – | |
| 2H5H ( | H1, H5, H9 | H1, H5 | – | |
| SD36L ( | H3, H4, H7, H10 | H3, H4, H7, H10 | – | |
| SD83L ( | B | B | – | |
| Fusion Peptide Region | CR8020H ( | H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | H3, H7, H10 | H3, H7 |
| CR8043H ( | H3, H4, H7, H10, H14, H15 | H3, H10 | H3, H7 | |
| 9H10M ( | H3, H10 | H3, H10 | H3 |
Characteristics of broadly neutralizing antibody binding to the HA stem domain.
H human antibody; M murine antibody; L llama antibody; B, influenza B viruses; -, no information.
Binding breadth in vitro, cross-react with expressed different HA proteins or viruses in vitro.
Neutralizing breadth in vitro, effectively neutralize and cross-neutralize different influenza viruses in cells.
Protection breadth in vivo, effectively preventing and/or therapeutic efficacy against influenza virus infection in mouse animal models, with an exception “*” mouse and ferret were used as animal models.
The epitope footprints of antibodies CR6261, 27F3, 3E1, SD38, and Mab 3.1 are shown in the H1 HA model of Figure 3A. All of these antibodies bind to the hydrophobic groove region with CDRs of heavy and light chains. Antibody 3E1 also bind to the fusion peptide region (
Figure 3

Conserved epitopes of the HA stem domain. HA1 is shown in white, HA2 in gray. (A–E) are epitope footprints of bnAbs binding the hydrophobic groove region. (A) H1 HA (PDB ID: 4M4Y) as a model, the epitopes of CR6261 (PDB ID:3GBN) and Mab 3.1 (PDB ID: 4PY8) overlap in red. The non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (27F3, PDB ID: 5WKO), green (3E1 PDB ID: 5GJT) and dark blue (SD38, PDB ID: 6FYT), respectively. (B) H2 HA (PDB ID: 4HLZ) as a model, the epitope of C179 (PDB ID: 4HLZ). (C) H3 HA (PDB ID: 4FNK) as a model, the non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (FI6 (FI6v3), PDB ID: 3ZTJ), dark blue (39.29, PDB ID: 4KVN), blue-green (CT149, PDB ID:4UBD), and green (3I14, PDB ID: 6WF0), respectively. (D) H5 HA (PDB ID: 4MHH) as a model, the non-overlapping residues are shown in dark blue (CR9114, PDB ID: 4FQI), green (MEDI8852, PDB ID: 5JW4), light purple (F10, PDB ID: 3FKU), and blue-green (70-1F02, PDB ID: 6B3M), respectively. (E) H7 HA (A/tree sparrow/Shanghai/01/2013) as a model, the epitope of SD36 (PDB ID: 6FYU). (F) Epitope footprint of bnAbs binding to the fusion peptide region. H3 HA (PDB ID: 4FNK) as a model, the non-overlapping residues are shown in light purple (CR8020, PDB ID: 3SDY) and green (CR8043, PDB ID: 4NM8).
Antibody C179 was the first reported bnAb to neutralize influenza A viruses, and was isolated from a mouse in 1993 (
As mentioned previously, of the bnAbs that bind to the hydrophobic groove region, only one exhibits group 2 HA reactivity, the llama single-domain antibody (sdAb) SD36 (Table 2). SD36 recognizes conserved epitopes that partially overlap with those of bnAbs CR9114, CR6261, and FI6(FI6v3) (
Llama sdAb SD83 can neutralize both influenza B virus lineages (Table 2), and its epitope is also in the hydrophobic groove region. This epitope is highly conserved, with the residues being >99% identical in influenza B viruses (
Till now, a series of small protein or peptide viral fusion inhibitors targeting conserved epitopes of HA stem have been developed, such as HB36 and HB80 (
Epitopes of the fusion peptide region
The bnAbs that bind to the fusion peptide region of the HA stem are only reactive with group 2 HA; these bnAbs include CR8020 (
In summary, the highly conserved protective epitopes of HA in influenza A viruses are concentrated in five regions: the RBS pocket, the VE subdomain, the occluded epitope region between the HA heads, the hydrophobic groove region, and the fusion peptide region. The breadth of bnAbs targeting these five conserved protective epitope regions is summarized in Figure 4. The hydrophobic groove region is the most conserved protective epitope region of HA. Most bnAbs targeting these regions exhibit extremely broad reactivity to both group 1 and/or group 2 HAs of influenza A virus, and even to influenza B virus. The epitopes of the RBS pocket and the occluded epitope region are also conserved; some bnAbs targeting these two regions are broadly reactive, but bnAbs targeting the RBS pocket having higher potency than bnAbs targeting the occluded epitope region. To date, bnAbs targeting the fusion peptide region only neutralize group 2 HAs, and bnAbs targeting the VE subdomain are subtype-specific.
Figure 4

The HA conserved epitope regions of influenza A virus. HA1 is shown in white, HA2 in gray. The five conserved protective epitope regions summarized in this review: (A) The hydrophobic groove region is shown in red; (B) the RBS in orange; (C) the occluded epitope region of the HA monomers interface in light orange; (D) the fusion peptide region in orange-yellow; and (E) the VE subdomain in yellow. The broad-spectrum breadth of the five conserved protective epitope regions are ranked A>B>C>D>E.
Conclusions
The constant antigenic drift and antigenic shift of influenza viruses and the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic since 2020 have further emphasized the urgent need for a universal influenza vaccine and therapeutic agents. The isolation of new bnAbs and identification of highly conserved protective epitopes of HA have identified more distinct targets for the development of novel vaccines and therapeutic based on HA. Because the epitopes of the HA head are more accessible, humoral responses to the head region of HA are more robust than those to the HA stem. In one study, about 14% of HA-specific memory B cells from healthy human donors, 76% B cell receptor were specific for epitopes present on the HA head (
In recent years, significant advances have been made in universal influenza vaccine research, and multiple strategies are currently being explored based on HA, including chimeric HA, mosaic HA, computationally optimized broadly reactive antigens (COBARs), Mini-HA, and mosaic nanoparticle vaccination approaches (
Statements
Author contributions
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32072878) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2604204).
Acknowledgments
We thank Prof. Hualan Chen for revising and editing the manuscript.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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Summary
Keywords
influenza A viruses, hemagglutinin, broadly neutralizing antibodies, conserved protective epitopes, universal influenza vaccines, therapeutic agents
Citation
Jiao C, Wang B, Chen P, Jiang Y and Liu J (2023) Analysis of the conserved protective epitopes of hemagglutinin on influenza A viruses. Front. Immunol. 14:1086297. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1086297
Received
01 November 2022
Accepted
07 February 2023
Published
17 February 2023
Volume
14 - 2023
Edited by
Mahbuba Rahman, McMaster University, Canada
Reviewed by
Al Hakim, Jagannath University, Bangladesh; Saba Ismail, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Pakistan
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Copyright
© 2023 Jiao, Wang, Chen, Jiang and Liu.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Jinxiong Liu, liujinxiong@caas.cn
This article was submitted to Vaccines and Molecular Therapeutics, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology
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