Antigenic and virological properties of an H3N2 variant that continues to dominate the 2021–22 Northern Hemisphere influenza season

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110897
• Publication Date: 2022-05-31T15:03:43Z
• Authors: Marcus J. Bolton; Jordan T. Ort; Ryan McBride; Nicholas J. Swanson; Jo Wilson; Moses Awofolaju; Colleen Furey; Allison R. Greenp...; Elizabeth M. Drapeau; Andrew Pekosz; James C. Paulson; Scott E. Hensley
• Keywords: Flu season; Influenza season; Seasonal influenza

Influenza viruses circulated at very low levels during the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, and population immunity against these is low. An H3N2 strain (3C.2a1b.2a2) with a hemagglutinin (HA) that has several substitutions relative to 2021-22 vaccine dominating Northern Hemisphere influenza season. Here, we show one eliminates key glycosylation site on HA alters sialic acid binding. Using glycan array profiling, 3C.2a1b.2a2 H3 maintains binding an extended biantennary sialoside replicates high titers in human airway cells. We find antibodies elicited by poorly neutralize strain. Together, data indicate efficiently replicate cells escape vaccine-elicited antibodies.