Heterologous boosting of nonrelated toxoid immunity during acute Puumala hantavirus infection

Persistence of immune memory in humans is a crucial yet poorly understood aspect immunology. Here we have studied the effect Puumala hantavirus infection on unrelated, pre-existing by studying T cell- and antibody responses against toxoid vaccine antigens diphtheria, tetanus pertussis cohort 45 patients. We found that tetanus- -specific IgG concentrations elevate during acute virus infection. Increase was associated with proliferation heterologous cells. Interestingly, increases tetanus-specific persisted year after while pertussis-specific declined rapidly; difference kinetics resembling seen vaccination pertussis. These results suggest persistence facilitated boosting old formation newly encountered antigens. They also show different may be treated differently. Our study gives new insight into how alter memory, shows immunity an impact outcomes.