Total recall? Understanding the effect of antigenic distance on original antigenic sin

Abstract

Vaccination-induced antibodies are critical for protective immunity against pathogenic threats. "Original antigenic sin" (OAS), also referred to as imprinting, is the observed phenomenon whereby exposure to antigenic stimuli bias future antibody responses. This Commentary describes a recently elegant model published in Nature by Schiepers et al. which allows us to delve deeper into the processes and mechanisms of OAS than ever before.

Keywords: antibodies; imprinting; vaccination.