scholarly journals Universal Live-Attenuated Influenza Vaccine Candidates Expressing Multiple M2e Epitopes Protect Ferrets against a High-Dose Heterologous Virus Challenge

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1280
Author(s):  
Daria Mezhenskaya ◽  
Irina Isakova-Sivak ◽  
Victoria Matyushenko ◽  
Svetlana Donina ◽  
Andrey Rekstin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
Consensus Sequences ◽  
Degree Of Protection ◽  
Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

The development of an influenza vaccine with broad protection and durability remains an attractive idea due to the high mutation rate of the influenza virus. An extracellular domain of Matrix 2 protein (M2e) is among the most attractive target for the universal influenza vaccine owing to its high conservancy rate. Here, we generated two recombinant live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) candidates encoding four M2e epitopes representing consensus sequences of human, avian and swine influenza viruses, and studied them in a preclinical ferret model. Both LAIV+4M2e viruses induced higher levels of M2e-specific antibodies compared to the control LAIV strain, with the LAIV/HA+4M2e candidate being significantly more immunogenic than the LAIV/NS+4M2e counterpart. A high-dose heterosubtypic influenza virus challenge revealed the highest degree of protection after immunization with LAIV/HA+4M2e strain, followed by the NS-modified LAIV and the classical LAIV virus. Furthermore, only the immune sera from the LAIV/HA+4M2e-immunized ferrets protected mice from a panel of lethal influenza viruses encoding M genes of various origins. These data suggest that the improved cross-protection of the LAIV/HA+4M2e universal influenza vaccine candidate was mediated by the M2e-targeted antibodies. Taking into account the safety profile and improved cross-protective potential, the LAIV/HA+4M2e vaccine warrants its further evaluation in a phase I clinical trial.

scholarly journals Cross-Reactive Neuraminidase-Inhibiting Antibodies Elicited by Immunization with Recombinant Neuraminidase Proteins of H5N1 and Pandemic H1N1 Influenza A Viruses

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (14) ◽  
pp. 7224-7234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Chun Liu ◽  
Chia-Ying Lin ◽  
Yung-Ta Tsou ◽  
Jia-Tsrong Jan ◽  
Suh-Chin Wu
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Homologous Virus ◽  
Universal Influenza Vaccine

ABSTRACTNeuraminidase (NA), an influenza virus envelope glycoprotein, removes sialic acid from receptors for virus release from infected cells. For this study, we used a baculovirus-insect cell expression system to construct and purify recombinant NA (rNA) proteins of H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1203/2004) and pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) (A/Texas/05/2009) influenza viruses. BALB/c mice immunized with these proteins had high titers of NA-specific IgG and NA-inhibiting (NI) antibodies against H5N1, pH1N1, H3N2, and H7N9 viruses. H5N1 rNA immunization resulted in higher quantities of NA-specific antibody-secreting B cells against H5N1 and heterologous pH1N1 viruses in the spleen. H5N1 rNA and pH1N1 rNA immunizations both provided complete protection against homologous virus challenges, with H5N1 rNA immunization providing better protection against pH1N1 virus challenges. Cross-reactive NI antibodies were further dissected via pH1N1 rNA protein immunizations with I149V (NA with a change of Ile to Val at position 149), N344Y, and I365T/S366N NA mutations. The I365T/S366N mutation of pH1N1 rNA enhanced cross-reactive NI antibodies against H5N1, H3N2, and H7N9 viruses. It is our hope that these findings provide useful information for the development of an NA-based universal influenza vaccine.IMPORTANCENeuraminidase (NA) is an influenza virus enzymatic protein that cleaves sialic acid linkages on infected cell surfaces, thus facilitating viral release and contributing to viral transmission and mucus infection. In currently available inactivated or live, attenuated influenza vaccines based on the antigenic content of hemagglutinin proteins, vaccine efficacy can be contributed partly through NA-elicited immune responses. We investigated the NA immunity of different recombinant NA (rNA) proteins associated with pH1N1 and H5N1 viruses. Our results indicate that H5N1 rNA immunization induced more potent cross-protective immunity than pH1N1 rNA immunization, and three mutated residues, I149V, I365T, and S366N, near the NA enzyme active site(s) are linked to enhanced cross-reactive NA-inhibiting antibodies against heterologous and heterosubtypic influenza A viruses. These findings provide useful information for the development of an NA-based universal influenza vaccine.

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.

PECULARITIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF REASSORTANT STRAINS FOR LIVE INFLUENZA VACCINE BASED ON VIRUSES WITH PANDEMIC POTENTIAL

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-62
Author(s):  
N V Larionova ◽  
I V Kiseleva ◽  
E M Doroshenko ◽  
L G Rudenko
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Pandemic Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Genome Composition ◽  
Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Ha Gene ◽  
H5n1 Influenza

Objective of the research: to characterize the effectiveness of obtaining reassortant strains for live influenza vaccine based on pandemic and potentially pandemic influenza viruses which are new for humans. Materials and methods of the research: influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09, potentially pandemic A(H3N2)v and A(H5N1) influenza viruses, a master donor virus for the Russian live influenza vaccine. Virological and molecular genetics methods of research. Results: strains with a 6:2 genome composition for live influenza reassortant vaccine based on the pandemic '(H1N1)pdm09 virus and swine influenza A(H3N2)v virus have been successfully obtained. The reassortment of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses A(H5N1) and human A(H2N2) master donor virus for live attenuated influenza vaccine is complicated by the features of the constellation of their genes. H5N2 reassortants which inherited only HA gene from HPAI viruses of avian influenza were obtained. Despite the impossibility of development of 6:2 reassortants, the phenotypic, preclinical characteristics of the reassortants with the 7:1 genome composition, and their further clinical studies on volunteers have shown that such vaccine strains can be successfully used to prevent diseases caused by avian influenza viruses. Conclusion. When vaccine strains against potentially pandemic influenza viruses are obtained by the classical reassortment technique then the success depends on the mutual constellation of genes of phylogenetically distant far apart parental viruses. In some cases the inheritance by the reassortant of a single HA gene from the antigenic actual virus can be a compromise for LAIV development.

scholarly journals Thapsigargin Is a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor of Major Human Respiratory Viruses: Coronavirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A Virus

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Sarah Al-Beltagi ◽  
Cristian Alexandru Preda ◽  
Leah V. Goulding ◽  
Joe James ◽  
Juan Pu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
2009 H1n1 ◽  
Syncytial Virus

The long-term control strategy of SARS-CoV-2 and other major respiratory viruses needs to include antivirals to treat acute infections, in addition to the judicious use of effective vaccines. Whilst COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out for mass vaccination, the modest number of antivirals in use or development for any disease bears testament to the challenges of antiviral development. We recently showed that non-cytotoxic levels of thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ ATPase pump, induces a potent host innate immune antiviral response that blocks influenza A virus replication. Here we show that TG is also highly effective in blocking the replication of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), common cold coronavirus OC43, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus in immortalized or primary human cells. TG’s antiviral performance was significantly better than remdesivir and ribavirin in their respective inhibition of OC43 and RSV. Notably, TG was just as inhibitory to coronaviruses (OC43 and SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses (USSR H1N1 and pdm 2009 H1N1) in separate infections as in co-infections. Post-infection oral gavage of acid-stable TG protected mice against a lethal influenza virus challenge. Together with its ability to inhibit the different viruses before or during active infection, and with an antiviral duration of at least 48 h post-TG exposure, we propose that TG (or its derivatives) is a promising broad-spectrum inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2, OC43, RSV and influenza virus.

scholarly journals A Live-Attenuated Prime, Inactivated Boost Vaccination Strategy with Chimeric Hemagglutinin-Based Universal Influenza Virus Vaccines Provides Protection in Ferrets: A Confirmatory Study

Vaccines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffael Nachbagauer ◽  
Florian Krammer ◽  
Randy Albrecht
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Virus Vaccine ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Inactivated Vaccine ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Live Attenuated Vaccine ◽  
Virus Surface ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
Attenuated Vaccine

Influenza viruses cause severe diseases and mortality in humans on an annual basis. The current influenza virus vaccines can confer protection when they are well-matched with the circulating strains. However, due to constant changes of the virus surface glycoproteins, the vaccine efficacy can drop substantially in some seasons. In addition, the current seasonal influenza virus vaccines do not protect from avian influenza viruses of human pandemic potential. Novel influenza virus vaccines that aim to elicit antibodies against conserved epitopes like the hemagglutinin stalk could not only reduce the burden of drifted seasonal viruses but potentially also protect humans from infection with zoonotic and emerging pandemic influenza viruses. In this paper, we generated influenza virus vaccine constructs that express chimeric hemagglutinins consisting of exotic, avian head domains and a consistent stalk domain of a seasonal virus. Using such viruses in a sequential immunization regimen can redirect the immune response towards conserved epitopes. In this study, male ferrets received a live-attenuated vaccine virus based on the A/Ann Arbor/6/60 strain expressing a chimeric H8/1 (cH8/1) hemagglutinin, which was followed by a heterologous booster vaccination with a cH5/1N1 formalin inactivated non-adjuvanted whole virus. This group was compared to a second group that received a cH8/1N1 inactivated vaccine followed by a cH5/1N1 inactivated vaccine. Both groups showed a reduction in viral titers in the upper respiratory tract after the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus challenge. Animals that received the live-attenuated vaccine had low or undetectable titers in the lower respiratory tract. The results support the further development of chimeric hemagglutinin-based vaccination strategies. The outcome of this study confirms and corroborates findings from female ferrets primed with a A/Leningrad/134/17/57-based live attenuated cH8/1N1 vaccine followed by vaccination with an AS03-adjuvanted cH5/1N1 split virus vaccine 10.

scholarly journals Positive Selection in CD8+T-Cell Epitopes of Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein Revealed by a Comparative Analysis of Human and Swine Viral Lineages

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (22) ◽  
pp. 11275-11283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Machkovech ◽  
Trevor Bedford ◽  
Marc A. Suchard ◽  
Jesse D. Bloom
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Human Influenza Virus

ABSTRACTNumerous experimental studies have demonstrated that CD8+T cells contribute to immunity against influenza by limiting viral replication. It is therefore surprising that rigorous statistical tests have failed to find evidence of positive selection in the epitopes targeted by CD8+T cells. Here we use a novel computational approach to test for selection in CD8+T-cell epitopes. We define all epitopes in the nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein (M1) with experimentally identified human CD8+T-cell responses and then compare the evolution of these epitopes in parallel lineages of human and swine influenza viruses that have been diverging since roughly 1918. We find a significant enrichment of substitutions that alter human CD8+T-cell epitopes in NP of human versus swine influenza virus, consistent with the idea that these epitopes are under positive selection. Furthermore, we show that epitope-altering substitutions in human influenza virus NP are enriched on the trunk versus the branches of the phylogenetic tree, indicating that viruses that acquire these mutations have a selective advantage. However, even in human influenza virus NP, sites in T-cell epitopes evolve more slowly than do nonepitope sites, presumably because these epitopes are under stronger inherent functional constraint. Overall, our work demonstrates that there is clear selection from CD8+T cells in human influenza virus NP and illustrates how comparative analyses of viral lineages from different hosts can identify positive selection that is otherwise obscured by strong functional constraint.IMPORTANCEThere is a strong interest in correlates of anti-influenza immunity that are protective against diverse virus strains. CD8+T cells provide such broad immunity, since they target conserved viral proteins. An important question is whether T-cell immunity is sufficiently strong to drive influenza virus evolution. Although many studies have shown that T cells limit viral replication in animal models and are associated with decreased symptoms in humans, no studies have proven with statistical significance that influenza virus evolves under positive selection to escape T cells. Here we use comparisons of human and swine influenza viruses to rigorously demonstrate that human influenza virus evolves under pressure to fix mutations in the nucleoprotein that promote escape from T cells. We further show that viruses with these mutations have a selective advantage since they are preferentially located on the “trunk” of the phylogenetic tree. Overall, our results show that CD8+T cells targeting nucleoprotein play an important role in shaping influenza virus evolution.

scholarly journals Bat influenza vectored NS1-truncated live vaccine protects pigs against heterologous virus challenge

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhwa Lee ◽  
Yonghai Li ◽  
Yuhao Li ◽  
A. Giselle Cino-Ozuna ◽  
Michael Duff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Swine Influenza Virus ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Live Vaccine ◽  
H3n2 Virus ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractSwine influenza is an important disease for the swine industry. Currently used whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines can induce vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD) in pigs when the vaccine strains mismatch with the infected viruses. Live attenuated influenza virus vaccine (LAIV) is effective to protect pigs against homologous and heterologous swine influenza virus infections without inducing VAERD, but has safety concerns due to potential reassortment with circulating viruses. Herein, we used a chimeric bat influenza Bat09:mH3mN2 virus, which contains both surface HA and NA gene open reading frames of the A/swine/Texas/4199-2/1998 (H3N2) and six internal genes from the novel bat H17N10 virus, to develop modified live-attenuated viruses (MLVs) as vaccine candidates which cannot reassort with canonical influenza A viruses by co-infection. Two attenuated MLV vaccine candidates including the virus that expresses a truncated NS1 (Bat09:mH3mN2-NS1-128, MLV1) or expresses both a truncated NS1 and the swine IL-18 (Bat09:mH3mN2-NS1-128-IL-18, MLV2) were generated and evaluated in pigs against a heterologous H3N2 virus using the WIV vaccineb as a control. Compared to the WIV vaccine, both MLV vaccines were able to reduce lesions and virus replication in lungs and limit nasal virus shedding without VAERD, also induced significantly higher levels of mucosal IgA response in lungs and significantly increased numbers of antigen-specific IFN-γ secreting cells against the challenge virus. However, no significant difference was observed in efficacy between the MLV1 and MLV2. These results indicate that bat influenza vectored MLV vaccines can be used as a safe live vaccine to prevent swine influenza.

scholarly journals The Geographic Variation of Surveillance and Zoonotic Spillover Potential of Influenza Viruses in Domestic Poultry and Swine

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A Berger ◽  
David M Pigott ◽  
Francesca Tomlinson ◽  
David Godding ◽  
Sebastian Maurer-Stroh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Virus Surveillance ◽  
Domestic Poultry ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Virus Emergence

Abstract Background Avian and swine influenza viruses circulate worldwide and pose threats to both animal and human health. The design of global surveillance strategies is hindered by information gaps on the geospatial variation in virus emergence potential and existing surveillance efforts. Methods We developed a spatial framework to quantify the geographic variation in outbreak emergence potential based on indices of potential for animal-to-human and secondary human-to-human transmission. We then compared our resultant raster model of variation in emergence potential with the global distribution of recent surveillance efforts from 359105 reports of surveillance activities. Results Our framework identified regions of Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, and sub-Saharan Africa with high potential for influenza virus spillover. In the last 15 years, however, we found that 78.43% and 49.01% of high-risk areas lacked evidence of influenza virus surveillance in swine and domestic poultry, respectively. Conclusions Our work highlights priority areas where improved surveillance and outbreak mitigation could enhance pandemic preparedness strategies.

scholarly journals Swine-Origin H1 Influenza Viruses Isolated from Humans Exhibit Sustained Infectivity in an Aerosol State

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza ◽  
Jessica A. Belser ◽  
Terrence M. Tumpey ◽  
Taronna R. Maines
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Swine Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Swine Influenza ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Aerosol State ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Higher Doses ◽  
Enhanced Stability

ABSTRACT The relative importance of influenza virus transmission via aerosols is not fully understood, but experimental data suggest that aerosol transmission may represent a critical mode of influenza virus spread among humans. Decades ago, prototypical laboratory strains of influenza were shown to persist in aerosols; however, there is a paucity of data available covering currently circulating influenza viruses, which differ significantly from their predecessors. In this study, we evaluated the longevity of influenza viruses in aerosols generated in the laboratory. We selected a panel of H1 viruses that exhibit diverse transmission profiles in the ferret model, including four human isolates of swine origin (referred to as variant) and a seasonal strain. By measuring the ratio of viral RNA to infectious virus maintained in aerosols over time, we show that influenza viruses known to transmit efficiently through the air display enhanced stability in an aerosol state for prolonged periods compared to those viruses that do not transmit as efficiently. We then assessed whether H1 influenza virus was still capable of infecting and causing disease in ferrets after being aged in suspended aerosols. Ferrets exposed to very low levels of influenza virus (≤17 PFU) in aerosols aged for 15 or 30 min became infected, with five of six ferrets shedding virus in nasal washes at titers on par with ferrets who inhaled higher doses of unaged influenza virus. We describe here an underreported characteristic of influenza viruses, stability in aerosols, and make a direct connection to the role this characteristic plays in influenza transmission. IMPORTANCE Each time a swine influenza virus transmits to a human, it provides an opportunity for the virus to acquire adaptations needed for sustained human-to-human transmission. Here, we use aerobiology techniques to test the stability of swine-origin H1 subtype viruses in aerosols and evaluate their infectivity in ferrets. Our results show that highly transmissible influenza viruses display enhanced stability in an aerosol state compared to viruses that do not transmit as efficiently. Similar to human-adapted strains, swine-origin influenza viruses are infectious in ferrets at low doses even after prolonged suspension in the air. These data underscore the risk of airborne swine-origin influenza viruses and support the need for continued surveillance and refinement of innovative laboratory methods to investigate mammalian exposure to inhaled pathogens. Determination of the molecular markers that affect the longevity of airborne influenza viruses will improve our ability to quickly identify emerging strains that present the greatest threat to public health.

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