Vaccination with ADCC activating HA peptide epitopes provides 1 partial protection from influenza infection

Influenza-specific antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) antibodies have a broad cross reactivity and potential as an immune correlate for universal vaccines. Peptide-mapping for ADCC reactivity of H1-HA and H7-HA proteins from human serum samples identified high ADCC-inducing peptides in both the HA1 and HA2 regions. Vaccination of mice with single ADCC-peptides induced ADCC activity leading to partial protection from lethal influenza challenge, with increased survival, reduced viral loads, and reduced activation of NK cells in the lungs. Targeted vaccination strategies to elicit ADCC responses may provide an approach for universal vaccines.