Understanding Viral Co-Infections and Vaccine Failure: Seminar ofDr Lukasz Kedzierski at HKU-Pasteur Research Pole

The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole was pleased to host Dr Lukasz Kedzierski, Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader from the University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity for a seminar exploring the complex interplay between viral co-infections and immune responses, as well as the mechanisms underlying influenza vaccine failure.

Dr Kedzierski’s research sits at the intersection of immunology, virology and translational medicine. His work seeks to understand how the immune system responds not only to single infections, but to the increasingly relevant context of multiple, sequential viral exposures.

Dr Kedzierski presented a novel model combining Influenza A virus (IAV) and Semliki Forest virus (SFV), showing that the sequence of infection critically shapes immune responses and disease outcomes. Prior infection could either exacerbate pathology or attenuate disease, while also affecting long-term immunity.

He also shared findings from Australian influenza vaccination cohorts (2015–2022), highlighting that 50–60% of individuals failed to seroconvert despite measurable cellular responses. His team identified distinct B cell profiles associated with vaccine outcomes, with atypical-like B cells linked to both vaccine non-responsiveness and severe influenza.

The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole warmly thanks Dr Wuji Zhang for hosting and Dr Lukasz Kedzierski for sharing his insights.

The seminar sparked engaging discussions among HKU-Pasteur researchers, reflecting shared interests in antiviral immunity, vaccine optimisation and the broader “One Health” context in which viral pathogens continue to evolve and co-circulate globally.