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OBJECTIVES:The long-term dynamics of antibody responses in patients with influenza A(H7N9) virus infection are not well understood. METHODS:We conducted a longitudinal serological follow-up study in patients who were hospitalized with A(H7N9) virus infection, during 2013-2018. A(H7N9) virus-specific antibody responses were assessed by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and neutralization (NT) assays. A random intercept model was used to fit a curve to HAI antibody responses over time. HAI antibody responses were compared by clinical severity. RESULTS:Of 67 patients with A(H7N9) virus infection, HAI antibody titers reached 40 on average 11 days after illness onset and peaked at a titer of 290 after three months, and average titers of ≥80 and ≥40 were present until 11 months and 22 months respectively. HAI antibody responses were significantly higher in patients who experienced severe disease, including respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, compared with patients who experienced less severe illness. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with A(H7N9) virus infection who survived severe disease mounted higher antibody responses that persisted for longer periods compared with those that experienced moderate disease. Studies of convalescent plasma treatment for A(H7N9) patients should consider collection of donor plasma from survivors of severe disease between 1 and 11 months after illness onset.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jinf.2019.11.024

Type

Journal article

Journal

The Journal of infection

Publication Date

03/2020

Volume

80

Pages

310 - 319

Addresses

School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China.