Integrative genomic analysis of the human immune response to influenza vaccination
Luis M Franco,
Kristine L Bucasas,
Janet M Wells,
Diane Niño,
Xueqing Wang,
Gladys E Zapata,
Nancy Arden,
Alexander Renwick,
Peng Yu,
John M Quarles,
Molly S Bray,
Robert B Couch,
John W Belmont,
Chad A Shaw
Affiliations
Luis M Franco
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Kristine L Bucasas
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Janet M Wells
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Diane Niño
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Xueqing Wang
Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Gladys E Zapata
Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Nancy Arden
Department of Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College Station, United States
Alexander Renwick
Interdepartmental Program in Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Peng Yu
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
John M Quarles
Department of Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College Station, United States
Molly S Bray
Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Robert B Couch
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
John W Belmont
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Chad A Shaw
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Identification of the host genetic factors that contribute to variation in vaccine responsiveness may uncover important mechanisms affecting vaccine efficacy. We carried out an integrative, longitudinal study combining genetic, transcriptional, and immunologic data in humans given seasonal influenza vaccine. We identified 20 genes exhibiting a transcriptional response to vaccination, significant genotype effects on gene expression, and correlation between the transcriptional and antibody responses. The results show that variation at the level of genes involved in membrane trafficking and antigen processing significantly influences the human response to influenza vaccination. More broadly, we demonstrate that an integrative study design is an efficient alternative to existing methods for the identification of genes involved in complex traits.
