Identification of a cross-neutralizing antibody that targets the receptor binding site of H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses

Circulating subtypes of Influenza viruses seasonally change and therefore vaccines need to be matched to these strains each year, which is why there is a need for next-generation vaccines that can elicit broad and cross-type protection. Here, Li et al. generate a human-mouse chimeric antibody with broad neutralizing activity against seasonal and pandemic H1N1 and some H5N1 viruses in vivo and identify residues on hemagglutinin relevant for its broad neutralization activity.