Longitudinal dynamics and lineage cross-reactivity of the human antibody response to West Nile virus.

WNV infection induces durable neutralizing antibodies with a half-life of up to 472 days, but cross-reactivity against divergent lineages varies significantly among individuals.

• Why it matters: Understanding the longevity and breadth of WNV immunity is crucial for developing effective vaccines, especially given the virus's genetic diversity and lack of current therapeutics.
• What they did: The study tracked 55 WNV lineage 1-infected donors over a year, measuring antibody responses and their cross-neutralization capacity against lineage 2, revealing variability in cross-reactivity.
• The result: Findings show that while antibodies last long, their ability to neutralize divergent strains is inconsistent, highlighting the need for vaccines that provide broad, pan-lineage protection.