scholarly journals Induction of Virus-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes as a Basis for the Development of Broadly Protective Influenza Vaccines

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine L. B. Hillaire ◽  
Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus ◽  
Guus F. Rimmelzwaan
Keyword(s):  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Heterosubtypic Immunity

There is considerable interest in the development of broadly protective influenza vaccines because of the continuous emergence of antigenic drift variants of seasonal influenza viruses and the threat posed by the emergence of antigenically distinct pandemic influenza viruses. It has been recognized more than three decades ago that influenza A virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize epitopes located in the relatively conserved proteins like the nucleoprotein and that they cross-react with various subtypes of influenza A viruses. This implies that these CD8+T lymphocytes may contribute to protective heterosubtypic immunity induced by antecedent influenza A virus infections. In the present paper, we review the evidence for the role of virus-specific CD8+T lymphocytes in protective immunity against influenza virus infections and discuss vaccination strategies that aim at the induction of cross-reactive virus-specific T-cell responses.

scholarly journals The Hypervariable Immunodominant NP418-426 Epitope from the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein Is Recognized by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes with High Functional Avidity

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 6024-6032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrianus C. M. Boon ◽  
Gerrie de Mutsert ◽  
Ron A. M. Fouchier ◽  
Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus ◽  
Guus F. Rimmelzwaan
Keyword(s):  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Functional Avidity ◽  
Human Virus ◽  
Ctl Epitopes ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT Recently it was shown that influenza A viruses can accumulate mutations in epitopes associated with escape from recognition by human virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). It is unclear what drives diversification of CTL epitopes and why certain epitopes are variable and others remain conserved. It has been shown that simian immunodeficiency virus-specific CTL that recognize their epitope with high functional avidity eliminate virus-infected cells efficiently and drive diversification of CTL epitopes. T-cell functional avidity is defined by the density of major histocompatibility complex class I peptide complexes required to activate specific CTL. We hypothesized that functional avidity of CTL contributes to epitope diversification and escape from CTL also for influenza viruses. To test this hypothesis, the functional avidity of polyclonal CTL populations specific for nine individual epitopes was determined. To this end, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-A- and -B-genotyped individuals were stimulated in vitro with influenza virus-infected cells to allow expansion of virus-specific CTL, which were used to determine the functional avidity of CTL specific for nine individual epitopes in enzyme-linked immunospot assays. We found that the functional avidity for the respective epitopes varied widely. Furthermore, the functional avidity of CTL specific for the hypervariable NP418-426 epitope was significantly higher than that of CTL recognizing other epitopes (P < 0.01). It was speculated that the high functional avidity of NP418-426-specific CTL was responsible for the diversification of this influenza A virus CTL epitope.

scholarly journals Influenza A Virus Vaccination: Immunity, Protection, and Recent Advances Toward A Universal Vaccine

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Lopez ◽  
Kevin L. Legge
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Universal Vaccine

Influenza virus infections represent a serious public health threat and account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide due to seasonal epidemics and periodic pandemics. Despite being an important countermeasure to combat influenza virus and being highly efficacious when matched to circulating influenza viruses, current preventative strategies of vaccination against influenza virus often provide incomplete protection due the continuous antigenic drift/shift of circulating strains of influenza virus. Prevention and control of influenza virus infection with vaccines is dependent on the host immune response induced by vaccination and the various vaccine platforms induce different components of the local and systemic immune response. This review focuses on the immune basis of current (inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV)) as well as novel vaccine platforms against influenza virus. Particular emphasis will be placed on how each platform induces cross-protection against heterologous influenza viruses, as well as how this immunity compares to and contrasts from the “gold standard” of immunity generated by natural influenza virus infection.

scholarly journals An Intranasal Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Broadly Protects Mice from Multiple Subtypes of Influenza A Virus

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis M. Schwartzman ◽  
Andrea L. Cathcart ◽  
Lindsey M. Pujanauski ◽  
Li Qi ◽  
John C. Kash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Significant Protection ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
Practical Strategy ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

ABSTRACTInfluenza virus infections are a global public health problem, with a significant impact of morbidity and mortality from both annual epidemics and pandemics. The current strategy for preventing annual influenza is to develop a new vaccine each year against specific circulating virus strains. Because these vaccines are unlikely to protect against an antigenically divergent strain or a new pandemic virus with a novel hemagglutinin (HA) subtype, there is a critical need for vaccines that protect against all influenza A viruses, a so-called “universal” vaccine. Here we show that mice were broadly protected against challenge with a wide variety of lethal influenza A virus infections (94% aggregate survival following vaccination) with a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine cocktail. The vaccine consisted of a mixture of VLPs individually displaying H1, H3, H5, or H7 HAs, and vaccinated mice showed significant protection following challenge with influenza viruses expressing 1918 H1, 1957 H2, and avian H5, H6, H7, H10, and H11 hemagglutinin subtypes. These experiments suggest a promising and practical strategy for developing a broadly protective “universal” influenza vaccine.IMPORTANCEThe rapid and unpredictable nature of influenza A virus evolution requires new vaccines to be produced annually to match circulating strains. Human infections with influenza viruses derived from animals can cause outbreaks that may be associated with high mortality, and such strains may also adapt to humans to cause a future pandemic. Thus, there is a large public health need to create broadly protective, or “universal,” influenza vaccines that could prevent disease from a wide variety of human and animal influenza A viruses. In this study, a noninfectious virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine was shown to offer significant protection against a variety of influenza A viruses in mice, suggesting a practical strategy to develop a universal influenza vaccine.

scholarly journals Novel Ranking System for Identifying Efficacious Anti-Influenza Virus PB2 Inhibitors

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 6007-6016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice W. Tsai ◽  
Colleen F. McNeil ◽  
Joshua R. Leeman ◽  
Hamilton B. Bennett ◽  
Kwame Nti-Addae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Virus Infections

ABSTRACTThrough antigenic drift and shifts, influenza virus infections continue to be an annual cause of morbidity in healthy populations and of death among elderly and at-risk patients. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses such as H5N1 and H7N9 and the rapid spread of the swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus in 2009 demonstrate the continued need for effective therapeutic agents for influenza. While several neuraminidase inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of influenza virus infections, these have shown a limited window for treatment initiation, and resistant variants have been noted in the population. In addition, an older class of antiviral drugs for influenza, the adamantanes, are no longer recommended for treatment due to widespread resistance. There remains a need for new influenza therapeutic agents with improved efficacy as well as an expanded window for the initiation of treatment. Azaindole compounds targeting the influenza A virus PB2 protein and demonstrating excellentin vitroandin vivoproperties have been identified. To evaluate thein vivoefficacy of these PB2 inhibitors, we utilized a mouse influenza A virus infection model. In addition to traditional endpoints, i.e., death, morbidity, and body weight loss, we measured lung function using whole-body plethysmography, and we used these data to develop a composite efficacy score that takes compound exposure into account. This model allowed the rapid identification and ranking of molecules relative to each other and to oseltamivir. The ability to identify compounds with enhanced preclinical properties provides an opportunity to develop more-effective treatments for influenza in patients.

scholarly journals Functional Constraints of Influenza A Virus Epitopes Limit Escape from Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 11239-11246 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. G. M. Berkhoff ◽  
E. de Wit ◽  
M. M. Geelhoed-Mieras ◽  
A. C. M. Boon ◽  
J. Symons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Functional Constraints ◽  
Ctl Epitopes

ABSTRACT Viruses can exploit a variety of strategies to evade immune surveillance by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), including the acquisition of mutations in CTL epitopes. Also for influenza A viruses a number of amino acid substitutions in the nucleoprotein (NP) have been associated with escape from CTL. However, other previously identified influenza A virus CTL epitopes are highly conserved, including the immunodominant HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope from the matrix protein, M158-66. We hypothesized that functional constraints were responsible for the conserved nature of influenza A virus CTL epitopes, limiting escape from CTL. To assess the impact of amino acid substitutions in conserved epitopes on viral fitness and recognition by specific CTL, we performed a mutational analysis of CTL epitopes. Both alanine replacements and more conservative substitutions were introduced at various positions of different influenza A virus CTL epitopes. Alanine replacements for each of the nine amino acids of the M158-66 epitope were tolerated to various extents, except for the anchor residue at the second position. Substitution of anchor residues in other influenza A virus CTL epitopes also affected viral fitness. Viable mutant viruses were used in CTL recognition experiments. The results are discussed in the light of the possibility of influenza viruses to escape from specific CTL. It was speculated that functional constraints limit variation in certain epitopes, especially at anchor residues, explaining the conserved nature of these epitopes.

scholarly journals A multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of oseltamivir-resistant strains of influenza virus

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 628-633
Author(s):  
Dawid Nidzworski ◽  
Joanna Dobkowska ◽  
Marcin Hołysz ◽  
Beata Gromadzka ◽  
Bogusław Szewczyk
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Neuraminidase Inhibitor ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Oseltamivir Resistance

AbstractInfluenza is a contagious disease of humans and animals caused by viruses belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family. The influenza A virus genome consists of negative sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA. Influenza viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface antigens known as hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The main problem with influenza A viruses infecting humans is drug resistance, which is caused by antigenic changes. A few antiviral drugs are available, but the most popular is the neuraminidase inhibitor — oseltamivir. The resistance against this drug has probably developed through antigenic drift by a point mutation in one amino acid at position 275 (H275Y). In order to prevent a possible influenza pandemic it is necessary to develop fast diagnostic tests. The aim of this project was to develop a new test for detection of influenza A virus and determination of oseltamivir resistance/sensitivity in humans. Detection and differentiation of oseltamivir resistance/sensitivity of influenza A virus was based on real-time PCR. This test contains two TaqMan probes, which work at different wavelengths. Application of techniques like multiplex real-time PCR has greatly enhanced the capability for surveillance and characterization of influenza viruses. After its potential validation, this test can be used for diagnosis before treatment.

scholarly journals B Cell Responses against Influenza Viruses: Short-Lived Humoral Immunity against a Life-Long Threat

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 965
Author(s):  
Jenna J. Guthmiller ◽  
Henry A. Utset ◽  
Patrick C. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Humoral Immunity ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Major Surface

Antibodies are critical for providing protection against influenza virus infections. However, protective humoral immunity against influenza viruses is limited by the antigenic drift and shift of the major surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Importantly, people are exposed to influenza viruses throughout their life and tend to reuse memory B cells from prior exposure to generate antibodies against new variants. Despite this, people tend to recall memory B cells against constantly evolving variable epitopes or non-protective antigens, as opposed to recalling them against broadly neutralizing epitopes of hemagglutinin. In this review, we discuss the factors that impact the generation and recall of memory B cells against distinct viral antigens, as well as the immunological limitations preventing broadly neutralizing antibody responses. Lastly, we discuss how next-generation vaccine platforms can potentially overcome these obstacles to generate robust and long-lived protection against influenza A viruses.

scholarly journals Heterosubtypic Immunity to Influenza A Virus Infection Requires B Cells but Not CD8+Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan H. Nguyen ◽  
Frederik W. van Ginkel ◽  
Huong L. Vu ◽  
Jerry R. McGhee ◽  
Jiri Mestecky
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Heterosubtypic Immunity ◽  
Influenza A Virus Infection

scholarly journals Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Established by Seasonal Human Influenza Cross-React against 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (13) ◽  
pp. 6527-6535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwei Tu ◽  
Huawei Mao ◽  
Jian Zheng ◽  
Yinping Liu ◽  
Susan S. Chiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Specific Ctls

ABSTRACT While few children and young adults have cross-protective antibodies to the pandemic H1N1 2009 (pdmH1N1) virus, the illness remains mild. The biological reasons for these epidemiological observations are unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the bulk memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) established by seasonal influenza viruses from healthy individuals who have not been exposed to pdmH1N1 can directly lyse pdmH1N1-infected target cells and produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Using influenza A virus matrix protein 1 (M158-66) epitope-specific CTLs isolated from healthy HLA-A2+ individuals, we further found that M158-66 epitope-specific CTLs efficiently killed both M158-66 peptide-pulsed and pdmH1N1-infected target cells ex vivo. These M158-66-specific CTLs showed an effector memory phenotype and expressed CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptors. Of 94 influenza A virus CD8 T-cell epitopes obtained from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), 17 epitopes are conserved in pdmH1N1, and more than half of these conserved epitopes are derived from M1 protein. In addition, 65% (11/17) of these epitopes were 100% conserved in seasonal influenza vaccine H1N1 strains during the last 20 years. Importantly, seasonal influenza vaccination could expand the functional M158-66 epitope-specific CTLs in 20% (4/20) of HLA-A2+ individuals. Our results indicated that memory CTLs established by seasonal influenza A viruses or vaccines had cross-reactivity against pdmH1N1. These might explain, at least in part, the unexpected mild pdmH1N1 illness in the community and also might provide some valuable insights for the future design of broadly protective vaccines to prevent influenza, especially pandemic influenza.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Human H5N1 Influenza A Virus Isolated in 2003

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (15) ◽  
pp. 9926-9932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoko Shinya ◽  
Masato Hatta ◽  
Shinya Yamada ◽  
Ayato Takada ◽  
Shinji Watanabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
H5n1 Influenza ◽  
Avian Influenza A Virus

ABSTRACT In 2003, H5N1 avian influenza virus infections were diagnosed in two Hong Kong residents who had visited the Fujian province in mainland China, affording us the opportunity to characterize one of the viral isolates, A/Hong Kong/213/03 (HK213; H5N1). In contrast to H5N1 viruses isolated from humans during the 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, HK213 retained several features of aquatic bird viruses, including the lack of a deletion in the neuraminidase stalk and the absence of additional oligosaccharide chains at the globular head of the hemagglutinin molecule. It demonstrated weak pathogenicity in mice and ferrets but caused lethal infection in chickens. The original isolate failed to produce disease in ducks but became more pathogenic after five passages. Taken together, these findings portray the HK213 isolate as an aquatic avian influenza A virus without the molecular changes associated with the replication of H5N1 avian viruses in land-based poultry such as chickens. This case challenges the view that adaptation to land-based poultry is a prerequisite for the replication of aquatic avian influenza A viruses in humans.

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