Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections

Orthoflaviviruses, a group of arthropod-borne viruses, represent a significant global health threat, with hundreds of millions of infections each year, often leading to severe clinical outcomes. This Review elucidates the complexities of immune imprinting, also known as original antigenic sin (OAS),...

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Main Authors: Gielenny M. Salem, Fan-Chi Chen, James J. Cai, Day-Yu Chao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1560851/full
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author Gielenny M. Salem
Fan-Chi Chen
James J. Cai
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
author_facet Gielenny M. Salem
Fan-Chi Chen
James J. Cai
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
author_sort Gielenny M. Salem
collection DOAJ
description Orthoflaviviruses, a group of arthropod-borne viruses, represent a significant global health threat, with hundreds of millions of infections each year, often leading to severe clinical outcomes. This Review elucidates the complexities of immune imprinting, also known as original antigenic sin (OAS), and its influence on immune responses to repeated, heterologous orthoflavivirus infections. We examine how initial exposure to a virus can shape subsequent immune responses, potentially resulting in sub-optimal binding of pre-existing antibodies to related but distinct viruses. Although OAS is often linked with adverse outcomes, such as enhanced disease severity in dengue due to antibody-dependent enhancement, we re-introduce the concept of “antigenic seniority,” which highlights the potential advantages of prior exposures by promoting cross-protection against related variants. This perspective underscores the dual nature of immune imprinting and its implications for vaccine development and therapeutic strategies against orthoflavivirus infections. By exploring the delicate balance between protective and maladaptive immune responses, we emphasize critical considerations for developing effective vaccines and interventions in the context of evolving viral threats.
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spelling doaj-art-ec4e2ed0a8bb4fdf9aff310861ccbcba2025-08-20T03:27:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15608511560851Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infectionsGielenny M. Salem0Fan-Chi Chen1James J. Cai2Day-Yu Chao3Day-Yu Chao4Day-Yu Chao5Infection Biology Program, Global Center for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDoctoral Program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung City, TaiwanDepartment of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesDoctoral Program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung City, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, TaiwanDepartment of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, TaiwanOrthoflaviviruses, a group of arthropod-borne viruses, represent a significant global health threat, with hundreds of millions of infections each year, often leading to severe clinical outcomes. This Review elucidates the complexities of immune imprinting, also known as original antigenic sin (OAS), and its influence on immune responses to repeated, heterologous orthoflavivirus infections. We examine how initial exposure to a virus can shape subsequent immune responses, potentially resulting in sub-optimal binding of pre-existing antibodies to related but distinct viruses. Although OAS is often linked with adverse outcomes, such as enhanced disease severity in dengue due to antibody-dependent enhancement, we re-introduce the concept of “antigenic seniority,” which highlights the potential advantages of prior exposures by promoting cross-protection against related variants. This perspective underscores the dual nature of immune imprinting and its implications for vaccine development and therapeutic strategies against orthoflavivirus infections. By exploring the delicate balance between protective and maladaptive immune responses, we emphasize critical considerations for developing effective vaccines and interventions in the context of evolving viral threats.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1560851/fullorthoflavivirusesimmune imprintingoriginal antigenic sin (OAS)antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)antigenic seniority
spellingShingle Gielenny M. Salem
Fan-Chi Chen
James J. Cai
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
Day-Yu Chao
Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
Frontiers in Immunology
orthoflaviviruses
immune imprinting
original antigenic sin (OAS)
antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)
antigenic seniority
title Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
title_full Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
title_fullStr Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
title_full_unstemmed Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
title_short Factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
title_sort factors determining the outcomes of immune imprinting after repeated orthoflavivirus infections
topic orthoflaviviruses
immune imprinting
original antigenic sin (OAS)
antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)
antigenic seniority
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1560851/full
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