Obesity and influenza vaccinations: Lessons learned for COVID-19

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Nutrition and optimum life course, On-Demand Webinars

£14.99

Obesity and influenza vaccinations- Lessons learned for COVID-19

Individuals with obesity are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from both influenza virus infections and COVID-19. Both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent of COVID-19, are respiratory viruses, and the immune response to the infection is similar for both viruses. Using both pre-clinical animal models and clinical research studies with influenza vaccination, we have found significant influenza-specific immune dysfunction with obesity. This immune impairment results in adults with obesity being 2X more likely to develop influenza, despite vaccination. Mechanistically, the impairment is likely related to metabolic alterations in the immune cell population, driving immune dysfunction. Preliminary data with COVID-19 suggests some of the same obesity-driven immune dysfunction against influenza virus may also be found with SARS-CoV-2 infections, suggesting that, compared with a lean population, the obese population may not receive the equivalent level of protection with COVID-19 vaccines.

What will I learn?

Understand immune dysfunction as a result of obesity
Look at the mechanistic impairment related to obesity
Analyse why obesity may reduce protection to COVID-19 vaccination

Endorsement No EN175.47

Course Features

Lectures 2
Quiz 0
Duration Lifetime access
Skill level All levels
Language English
Students 199
Certificate Yes
Assessments Yes

Professor Melinda A. Beck

Professor Beck’s interests focus on research exploration of the relationship between host nutrition and immune function and response to infectious disease. Research in the laboratory has demonstrated that host deficiencies in antioxidant nutrients lead to viral mutations which result in viruses becoming pathogenic. This was the first description of a specific host nutritional deficiency driving changes in a viral genome permitting an avirulent virus to acquire virulence. Professor Beck’s laboratory research suggests that host nutritional status can be a driving force for the emergence of infectious diseases. In addition, Professor Beck is studying the effects of obesity on the immune response. Her research indicates that diet-induced obese animals have a much higher mortality rate from influenza infection than lean animals. In translating the animal model to humans, her laboratory has found that following influenza vaccination, obese individuals are not able to sustain anti-flu antibodies to the same level as healthy weight individuals. Of particular note, T cells from obese and overweight individuals have a poor response to the pH1N1 strain of influenza, suggesting that obese and overweight individuals would be less able to respond to an influenza infection. The lab is currently focusing on the mechanisms for the impact of weight status on the poor vaccine response and the poor T cell response in obese and overweight individuals.