Commercial influenza vaccines vary in HA-complex structure and in induction of cross-reactive HA antibodies

Influenza virus infects millions of people annually and can cause global pandemics. Hemagglutinin (HA) is the primary component of commercial influenza vaccines (CIV), and antibody titer to HA is a primary correlate of protection. Continual antigenic variation of HA requires that CIVs are reformulated yearly. Structural organization of HA complexes have not previously been correlated with induction of broadly reactive antibodies, yet CIV formulations vary in how HA is organized. Using electron microscopy to study four current CIVs, we find structures including: individual HAs, starfish structures with up to 12 HA molecules, and novel spiked-nanodisc structures that display over 50 HA molecules along the complex's perimeter. CIV containing these spiked nanodiscs elicit the highest levels of heterosubtypic cross-reactive antibodies in female mice. Here, we report that HA structural organization can be an important CIV parameter and can be associated with the induction of cross-reactive antibodies to conserved HA epitopes. Here, Myers and Gallagher et al. characterize the structural organization of commercial influenza vaccines. The vaccines differ in their structural composition and identify a spiked nanodisc arrangement of hemagglutinin (HA) with increased display and immunogenicity of the conserved stem region of HA.

Automated summary

Influenza viruses cause worldwide epidemics and yearly reformulation of commercial influenza vaccines (CIV) due to the antigenic variation of Hemagglutinin (HA). This study investigates the structural organization of HA in four current CIVs using electron microscopy, revealing different arrangements including individual HAs, starfish structures, and spiked-nanodisc structures. CIVs with spiked nanodiscs induce the highest levels of cross-reactive antibodies. Therefore, HA structural organization can be an important parameter for CIVs and their efficacy.