Modulation of polyclonal antibody responses and Its Long-Term Role in Protection Against Viral Diseases in the old and frail
Description: The risk of severe illness or death from infections rises sharply after age 65, a group that makes up about 20% of Sweden’s population. The biological reasons for this vulnerability remain unclear. This project explores how aging affects antibody structure and function, focusing on their role in protecting—or failing to protect—against respiratory viruses like Puumala virus, influenza A/B, and RSV. Using samples from over 3,000 Swedish nursing home residents, the study investigates how polyclonal antibody responses evolve and influence susceptibility in older adults. The first aim is to uncover structural mechanisms of virus neutralization using electron microscopy to visualize antibody-virus interactions and link them to binding and neutralization data. The second aim examines how antibody glycosylation changes with age, using mass spectrometry to analyze long-term serum samples from PUUV-infected individuals and elderly residents exposed to respiratory viruses. The third aim assesses antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection in aging populations through large-scale screening of capillary blood, correlating results with glycosylation profiles, clinical outcomes, and mortality. These studies aim to close key knowledge gaps in immune aging and identify mechanisms that influence vulnerability to respiratory infections in the elderly.
Funder: Vetenskapsrådet
Amount: SEK 4,050,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project grant
Start date: 2025-12-01
End date: 2028-11-30
Investigator: Mattias Forsell
Institution: Umeå University
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 2025-06686
OpenAlex ID: G5378329900