Glycan Shielding of the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Contributes to Immunopathology in Mice

Abstract

These data suggest that sequential infection with viral strains with different surface glycosylation can prime the host for immunopathology if a neutralizing antibody response matching the T-cell response is not present. This mechanism may have contributed to severe disease in young adults infected with the 2009 pandemic virus.