Background: Few studies have evaluated the relative cross-protection conferred by infection with different groups of viruses through studies of sequential infections in humans. We investigated the presence of short-lived relative cross-protection conferred by specific prior viral infections against subsequent febrile respiratory illness (FRI).
Methods: Men enlisted in basic military training between December 2009 and December 2014 were recruited, with the first FRI as the study entry point.
A(H1N1) strains of Influenzavirus were responsible for 2 pandemics in the last 100 years. Because infections experienced early in life may have a long-lasting influence on future immune response against other influenza strains, we drew on previously collected seroincidence data from Singapore (n = 2,554; June-October 2009) to investigate whether the 1918 pandemic influenza virus and its early descendants produced an age-related signature in immune responses against the A/California/7/2009(H1N1)pdm09 virus of 2009. Hemagglutination inhibition assays revealed a J-shaped relationship; the oldest birth cohort (born in 1911-1926) had the highest titers, followed by the youngest (born in 1987-1992).
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