A lack of antibody diversity may make the elderly more susceptible to the flu

The influenza vaccine may be less effective in the elderly because their B cells are less capable of producing antibodies that can adapt to protect against new viral strains, researchers report. With age, B cells and the antibodies they secrete acquire fewer mutations that would provide flexible protection against the ever-changing flu virus.

from Healthy Aging News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2SbINTu