{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "d6d8883830ca4e5ab8193e07aea3ae49", "timestamp": "2026-10-05T01:23:12.432Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/d6d8883830ca4e5ab8193e07aea3ae49.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/d6d8883830ca4e5ab8193e07aea3ae49"}}, "title": "Influenza-A mediated pre-existing immunity levels to SARS-CoV-2 could predict early COVID-19 outbreak dynamics.", "authors": [{"family": "Almaz\u00e1n", "given": "Nerea Mart\u00edn", "initials": "NM"}, {"family": "Rahbar", "given": "Afsar", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Carlsson", "given": "Marcus", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Hoffman", "given": "Tove", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Kolstad", "given": "Linda", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "R\u00f6nnberg", "given": "Bengt", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "Pantalone", "given": "Mattia Russel", "initials": "MR"}, {"family": "Fuchs", "given": "Ilona Lewensohn", "initials": "IL"}, {"family": "Naucl\u00e9r", "given": "Anna", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Ohlin", "given": "Mats", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Sacharczuk", "given": "Mariusz", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Religa", "given": "Piotr", "initials": "P"}, {"family": "Am\u00e9r", "given": "Stefan", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Moln\u00e1r", "given": "Christian", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Lundkvist", "given": "\u00c5ke", "initials": "\u00c5"}, {"family": "Susrud", "given": "Andres", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "S\u00f6rensen", "given": "Birger", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "S\u00f6derberg-Naucl\u00e9r", "given": "Cecilia", "initials": "C"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-12-15", "journal": {"title": "iScience", "issn": "2589-0042", "volume": "26", "issue": "12", "pages": "108441", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections is highly variable and could be mediated by a cross-protective pre-immunity. We identified 14 cross-reactive peptides between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A H1N1, H3N2, and human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A/B with potential relevance. The H1N1 peptide NGVEGF was identical to a peptide in the most critical receptor binding motif in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that interacts with the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor. About 62%-73% of COVID-19-negative blood donors in Stockholm had antibodies to this peptide in the early pre-vaccination phase of the pandemic. Seasonal flu vaccination enhanced neutralizing capacity to SARS-CoV-2 and T cell immunity to this peptide. Mathematical modeling taking the estimated pre-immunity levels to flu into account could fully predict pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in Stockholm and India. This cross-immunity provides mechanistic explanations to the epidemiological observation that influenza vaccination protected people against early SARS-CoV-2 infections and implies that flu-mediated cross-protective immunity significantly dampened the first SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.", "doi": "10.1016/j.isci.2023.108441", "pmid": "38144451", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10746369"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "S2589-0042(23)02518-X"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T11:20:11.528Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T11:20:11.551Z"}