{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-04-12T09:59:13.990Z", "family": "Rahbar", "given": "Afsar", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0003-1158-2512", "affiliations": [], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/a65023dc25594ea3801d743aedeafe75.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/a65023dc25594ea3801d743aedeafe75"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "70a2b6c3bcec472da67434e6080095d4", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/70a2b6c3bcec472da67434e6080095d4.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/70a2b6c3bcec472da67434e6080095d4"}}, "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", "orcid": "0000-0003-1158-2512", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/a65023dc25594ea3801d743aedeafe75.json"}}, {"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", "pages": "108441", "volume": "26", "issue": "12", "issn-l": "2589-0042"}, "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": {"Autoimmunity and Serology Profiling": "Service", "Drug Discovery and Development": "Service"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10746369"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "S2589-0042(23)02518-X"}], "notes": [], "created": "2023-12-01T13:53:35.380Z", "modified": "2025-10-17T13:05:07.444Z"}]}