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BackgroundMost reported human H5N1 viral infections have been severe and were detected after hospital admission. A case ascertainment bias may therefore exist, with mild cases or asymptomatic infections going undetected. We sought evidence of mild or asymptomatic H5N1 infection by examining H5N1-specific T-cell and antibody responses in a high-risk cohort in Vietnam.MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells were tested using interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot T assays measuring the response to peptides of influenza H5, H3, and H1 hemagglutinin (HA), N1 and N2 neuraminidase, and the internal proteins of H3N2. Horse erythrocyte hemagglutination inhibition assay was performed to detect antibodies against H5N1.ResultsTwenty-four of 747 individuals demonstrated H5-specific T-cell responses but little or no cross-reactivity with H3 or H1 HA peptides. H5N1 peptide-specific T-cell lines that did not cross-react with H1 or H3 influenza virus HA peptides were generated. Four individuals also had antibodies against H5N1.ConclusionsThis is the first report of ex vivo H5 HA-specific T-cell responses in a healthy but H5N1-exposed population. Our results indicate that the presence of H5N1-specific T cells could be an additional diagnostic tool for asymptomatic H5N1 infection.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jir689

Type

Journal article

Journal

The Journal of infectious diseases

Publication Date

01/2012

Volume

205

Pages

20 - 27

Addresses

MRC Human Immunology Unit, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, United Kingdom.

Keywords

T-Lymphocytes, Humans, Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus, Antibodies, Viral, Cohort Studies, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Vietnam, Influenza, Human, Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype, Asymptomatic Infections, Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay