A lack of antibody diversity may make the elderly more susceptible to the flu
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - 19:50
in Health & Medicine
The influenza vaccine may be less effective in the elderly because their B cells are less capable of producing antibodies that can adapt to protect against new viral strains, researchers report. With age, B cells and the antibodies they secrete acquire fewer mutations that would provide flexible protection against the ever-changing flu virus.