scholarly journals Designed Nanoparticles Elicit Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses To Conserved Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Stem Epitopes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin M. McCraw ◽  
Mallory L. Myers ◽  
Neetu M. Gulati ◽  
John R. Gallagher ◽  
Alexander J. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Lethal Challenge ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

AbstractDespite the availability of seasonal vaccines and antiviral medications, influenza virus continues to be a major health concern and pandemic threat due to the continually changing antigenic regions of the major surface glycoprotein, hemagglutinin (HA). One emerging strategy for the development of more efficacious seasonal and universal influenza vaccines is structure-guided design of nanoparticles that display conserved regions of HA, such as the stem. Using the H1 HA subtype to establish proof of concept, we found that an alpha-helical fragment (helix-A) from the conserved stem region can be displayed on nanoparticles. The stem region of HA on these nanoparticles is immunogenic and the nanoparticles are biochemically robust in that heat exposure did not destroy the particles and immunogenicity was retained. Furthermore, H1-nanoparticles protected mice from lethal challenge with H1N1 influenza virus. Importantly, antibodies elicited by these nanoparticles demonstrated homosubtypic and heterosubtypic cross-reactivity. The helix-A stem nanoparticle design represents a novel approach to display several hundred copies of non-trimeric conserved HA stem epitopes on vaccine nanoparticles. This design concept provides a new approach to universal influenza vaccine development strategies and opens up opportunities for the development of nanoparticles with broad coverage over many antigenically diverse influenza HA subtypes.SignificanceInfluenza virus is a public health issue that affects millions of people globally each year. Commercial influenza vaccines are based on the hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein, which can change antigenically every year, demanding the manufacture of newly matched vaccines annually. HA stem epitopes have a higher degree of conservation than HA molecules contained in conventional vaccine formulations and we demonstrate that we are able to design nanoparticles that display hundreds of HA stem fragments on nanoparticles. These designed nanoparticles are heat-stable, elicit antibodies to the HA stem, confer protection in mouse challenge models, and show cross-reactivity between HA subtypes. This technology provides promising opportunities to improve seasonal vaccines, develop pandemic preparedness vaccines, and facilitate the development of a universal influenza vaccine.

scholarly journals Egg-based influenza split virus vaccine with monoglycosylation induces cross-strain protection against influenza virus infections

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 4200-4205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Chieh Tseng ◽  
Chia-Yu Wu ◽  
Ming-Liang Liu ◽  
Ting-Hua Chen ◽  
Wan-Ling Chiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Virus Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Virus Surface ◽  
Chicken Eggs

Each year influenza virus infections cause hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide and a significant level of morbidity with major economic burden. At the present time, vaccination with inactivated virus vaccine produced from embryonated chicken eggs is the most prevalent method to prevent the infections. However, current influenza vaccines are only effective against closely matched circulating strains and must be updated and administered yearly. Therefore, generating a vaccine that can provide broad protection is greatly needed for influenza vaccine development. We have previously shown that vaccination of the major surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus with a singleN-acetylglucosamine at each of the N-glycosylation sites [monoglycosylated HA (HAmg)] can elicit better cross-protection compared with the fully glycosylated HA (HAfg). In the current study, we produced monoglycosylated inactivated split H1N1 virus vaccine from chicken eggs by the N-glycosylation process inhibitor kifunensine and the endoglycosidase Endo H, and intramuscularly immunized mice to examine its efficacy. Compared with vaccination of the traditional influenza vaccine with complex glycosylations from eggs, the monoglycosylated split virus vaccine provided better cross-strain protection against a lethal dose of virus challenge in mice. The enhanced antibody responses induced by the monoglycosylated vaccine immunization include higher neutralization activity, higher hemagglutination inhibition, and more HA stem selectivity, as well as, interestingly, higher antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. This study provides a simple and practical procedure to enhance the cross-strain protection of influenza vaccine by removing the outer part of glycans from the virus surface through modifications of the current egg-based process.

scholarly journals Targeting Antigens for Universal Influenza Vaccine Development

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 973
Author(s):  
Quyen-Thi Nguyen ◽  
Young-Ki Choi
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Target Antigen ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Virus Strains

Traditional influenza vaccines generate strain-specific antibodies which cannot provide protection against divergent influenza virus strains. Further, due to frequent antigenic shifts and drift of influenza viruses, annual reformulation and revaccination are required in order to match circulating strains. Thus, the development of a universal influenza vaccine (UIV) is critical for long-term protection against all seasonal influenza virus strains, as well as to provide protection against a potential pandemic virus. One of the most important strategies in the development of UIVs is the selection of optimal targeting antigens to generate broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies or cross-reactive T cell responses against divergent influenza virus strains. However, each type of target antigen for UIVs has advantages and limitations for the generation of sufficient immune responses against divergent influenza viruses. Herein, we review current strategies and perspectives regarding the use of antigens, including hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, matrix proteins, and internal proteins, for universal influenza vaccine development.

scholarly journals Strategies Targeting Hemagglutinin as a Universal Influenza Vaccine

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Brianna L. Bullard ◽  
Eric A. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Efficacy ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Viral Diversity ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Ha Protein

Influenza virus has significant viral diversity, both through antigenic drift and shift, which makes development of a vaccine challenging. Current influenza vaccines are updated yearly to include strains predicted to circulate in the upcoming influenza season, however this can lead to a mismatch which reduces vaccine efficacy. Several strategies targeting the most abundant and immunogenic surface protein of influenza, the hemagglutinin (HA) protein, have been explored. These strategies include stalk-directed, consensus-based, and computationally derived HA immunogens. In this review, we explore vaccine strategies which utilize novel antigen design of the HA protein to improve cross-reactive immunity for development of a universal influenza vaccine.

scholarly journals New Technologies for Influenza Vaccines

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1745
Author(s):  
Steven Rockman ◽  
Karen L. Laurie ◽  
Simone Parkes ◽  
Adam Wheatley ◽  
Ian G. Barr
Keyword(s):  
Computational Biology ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Development Cycle ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

Vaccine development has been hampered by the long lead times and the high cost required to reach the market. The 2020 pandemic, caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that was first reported in late 2019, has seen unprecedented rapid activity to generate a vaccine, which belies the traditional vaccine development cycle. Critically, much of this progress has been leveraged off existing technologies, many of which had their beginnings in influenza vaccine development. This commentary outlines the most promising of the next generation of non-egg-based influenza vaccines including new manufacturing platforms, structure-based antigen design/computational biology, protein-based vaccines including recombinant technologies, nanoparticles, gene- and vector-based technologies, as well as an update on activities around a universal influenza vaccine.

scholarly journals M2e-Based Influenza Vaccines with Nucleoprotein: A Review

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 739
Author(s):  
Mei Peng Tan ◽  
Wen Siang Tan ◽  
Noorjahan Banu Mohamed Alitheen ◽  
Wei Boon Yap
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Chimeric Protein ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Hospitalization Rates ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

Discovery of conserved antigens for universal influenza vaccines warrants solutions to a number of concerns pertinent to the currently licensed influenza vaccines, such as annual reformulation and mismatching with the circulating subtypes. The latter causes low vaccine efficacies, and hence leads to severe disease complications and high hospitalization rates among susceptible and immunocompromised individuals. A universal influenza vaccine ensures cross-protection against all influenza subtypes due to the presence of conserved epitopes that are found in the majority of, if not all, influenza types and subtypes, e.g., influenza matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e) and nucleoprotein (NP). Despite its relatively low immunogenicity, influenza M2e has been proven to induce humoral responses in human recipients. Influenza NP, on the other hand, promotes remarkable anti-influenza T-cell responses. Additionally, NP subunits are able to assemble into particles which can be further exploited as an adjuvant carrier for M2e peptide. Practically, the T-cell immunodominance of NP can be transferred to M2e when it is fused and expressed as a chimeric protein in heterologous hosts such as Escherichia coli without compromising the antigenicity. Given the ability of NP-M2e fusion protein in inducing cross-protective anti-influenza cell-mediated and humoral immunity, its potential as a universal influenza vaccine is therefore worth further exploration.

scholarly journals Host Factors Impact Vaccine Efficacy: Implications for Seasonal and Universal Influenza Vaccine Programs

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Dhakal ◽  
Sabra L. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Virus Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Efficacy ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Influenza Virus Vaccine ◽  
Host Factors ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Vaccine Type ◽  
Induced Immunity

ABSTRACT Influenza is a global public health problem. Current seasonal influenza vaccines have highly variable efficacy, and thus attempts to develop broadly protective universal influenza vaccines with durable protection are under way. While much attention is given to the virus-related factors contributing to inconsistent vaccine responses, host-associated factors are often neglected. Growing evidences suggest that host factors including age, biological sex, pregnancy, and immune history play important roles as modifiers of influenza virus vaccine efficacy. We hypothesize that host genetics, the hormonal milieu, and gut microbiota contribute to host-related differences in influenza virus vaccine efficacy. This review highlights the current insights and future perspectives into host-specific factors that impact influenza vaccine-induced immunity and protection. Consideration of the host factors that affect influenza vaccine-induced immunity might improve influenza vaccines by providing empirical evidence for optimizing or even personalizing vaccine type, dose, and use of adjuvants for current seasonal and future universal influenza vaccines.

scholarly journals Effects of Prior Influenza Exposure on Immunogenicity of Influenza Vaccine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-Qian Cao ◽  
Peng-Fei Jin ◽  
Zhao-Zhun Zeng ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Fan-Yue Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Hemagglutination Inhibition ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Vaccine Effectiveness ◽  
Prior Exposure ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Blood Samples

Abstract Background To investigate effects of prior influenza exposure on vaccine-elicited humor immune responses to circulating influenza variants. Method We randomly selected 360 participants in previous clinical trials stratified by age. Blood samples before and 28 days after vaccination were collected and tested by hemagglutination-inhibition tests against both vaccine strains and circulating variants during the 2015–2016 influenza seasons in China. The antigenic map was plotted and antigenic distance was calculated. Results Subjects with H1-priming had higher cross-reactive antibodies titers against A/JiangsuTinghu/11019/2015(H3N2) compared with subjects with B-priming did (Padjusted=0.038). Subjects with H1-priming also had higher cross-reactive antibodies titers against A/Jiangsu Qinhuai/11059/2015(H3N2) than subjects with both H1 and B priming did (Padjusted=0.036). Nevertheless, subjects with no H1 and B-priming had higher cross-reactive antibodies titers against A/Jiangsu Qinhuai/11059/2015(H3N2) than subjects with both H1 and B priming did (Padjusted=0.012). Antigenic distance was well-matched with serological results. Besides, age-specific differences in human post-vaccination responses against the identical circulating strain was noted. And children had most cross-reactive response to both H3N2 and B-yamagata subtypes. Conclusion Our results suggest that prior exposure to H1 or B influenza virus may influence cross-reactivity of H3-specific post-vaccination responses and consequently could influence the vaccine effectiveness. Our findings also support that there are age-specific differences in human post-vaccination responses.

scholarly journals Cocirculation of Two Distinct Genetic and Antigenic Lineages of Proposed Influenza D Virus in Cattle

2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 1036-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. Collin ◽  
Zizhang Sheng ◽  
Yuekun Lang ◽  
Wenjun Ma ◽  
Ben M. Hause ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Antigenic Analysis ◽  
Pathogenic Potential

ABSTRACTViruses with approximately 50% homology to human influenza C virus (ICV) have recently been isolated from swine and cattle. The overall low homology to ICV, lack of antibody cross-reactivity to ICV in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and agar gel immunodiffusion assays, and inability to productively reassort with ICV led to the proposal that these viruses represented a new genus of influenza virus, influenzavirus D (IDV). To further our understanding of the epidemiology of IDV, real-time reverse transcription-PCR was performed on a set of 208 samples from bovines with respiratory disease. Ten samples (4.8%) were positive and six viruses were successfully isolatedin vitro. Phylogenetic analysis of full-genome sequences of these six new viruses and four previously reported viruses revealed two distinct cocirculating lineages represented by D/swine/Oklahoma/1334/2011 (D/OK) and D/bovine/Oklahoma/660/2013 (D/660), which frequently reassorted with one another. Antigenic analysis using the HI assay and lineage-representative D/OK and D/660 antiserum found up to an approximate 10-fold loss in cross-reactivity against heterologous clade antiserum. One isolate, D/bovine/Texas/3-13/2011 (D/3-13), clustered with the D/660 lineage, but also had high HI titers to heterologous (D/OK) clade antiserum. Molecular modeling of the hemagglutinin esterase fusion protein of D/3-13 identified a mutation at position 212 as a possible antigenic determinant responsible for the discrepant HI results. These results suggest that IDV is common in bovines with respiratory disease and that at least two genetic and antigenically distinct clades cocirculate.IMPORTANCEA novel bovine influenza virus was recently identified. Detailed genetic and antigenic studies led to the proposal that this virus represents a new genus of influenza, influenzavirus D (IDV). Here, we show that IDV is common in clinical samples of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), with a prevalence similar to that of other established BRDC etiological agents. These results are in good agreement with the near-ubiquitous seroprevalence of IDV previously found. Phylogenetic analysis of complete genome sequences found evidence for two distinct cocirculating lineages of IDV which freely reassort. Significant antigenic differences, which generally agreed with the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin esterase phylogeny, were observed between the two lineages. Based on these results, and on the ability of IDV to infect and transmit in multiple mammalian species, additional studies to determine the pathogenic potential of IDV are warranted.

scholarly journals A Complex Dance: Measuring the Multidimensional Worlds of Influenza Virus Evolution and Anti-Influenza Immune Responses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiong Wang ◽  
Alexander Wiltse ◽  
Martin S. Zand
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Minimal Amount ◽  
Human Antibody ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

The human antibody response to influenza virus infection or vaccination is as complicated as it is essential for protection against flu. The constant antigenic changes of the virus to escape human herd immunity hinder the yearly selection of vaccine strains since it is hard to predict which virus strains will circulate for the coming flu season. A "universal" influenza vaccine that could induce broad cross-influenza subtype protection would help to alleviate this burden. However, the human antibody response is intricate and often obscure, with factors like antigenic seniority or original antigenic sin "OAS", and back-boosting ensuring that each person mounts a unique immune response to infection or vaccination with any new influenza virus strain. Notably, the effects of existing antibodies on cross-protective immunity after repeated vaccinations are unclear. More research is needed to characterize the mechanisms at play, but traditional assays such as hemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) are excessively limited in scope and too resource-intensive to effectively meet this challenge. In the past ten years, new multiple dimensional assays (MDAs) have been developed to help overcome these problems by simultaneously measuring antibodies against a large panel of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins with a minimal amount of sample in a high throughput way. MDAs will likely be a powerful tool for accelerating the study of the humoral immune response to influenza vaccination and the development of a universal influenza vaccine.

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