Neuraminidase-based recombinant virus-like particles protect against lethal avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in ferrets.

Abstract

Avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses represent a growing threat for an influenza pandemic. The presence of widespread avian influenza virus infections further emphasizes the need for vaccine strategies for control of pre-pandemic H5N1 and other avian influenza subtypes. Influenza neuraminidase (NA) vaccines represent a potential strategy for improving vaccines against avian influenza H5N1 viruses. To evaluate a strategy for NA vaccination, we generated a recombinant influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine comprised of the NA protein of A/Indonesia/05/2005 (H5N1) virus. Ferrets vaccinated with influenza N1 NA VLPs elicited high-titer serum NA-inhibition (NI) antibody titers and were protected from lethal challenge with A/Indonesia/05/2005 virus. Moreover, N1-immune ferrets shed less infectious virus than similarly challenged control animals. In contrast, ferrets administered control N2 NA VLPs were not protected against H5N1 virus challenge. These results provide support for continued development of NA-based vaccines against influenza H5N1 viruses.

• Authors: Gale E Smith, Xiangjie Sun, Yaohui Bai, Ye V Liu, Michael J Massare, Melissa B Pearce, Jessica A Belser, Taronna R Maines, Hannah M Creager, Gregory M Glenn, David Flyer, Peter Pushko, Min Z Levine, Terrence M Tumpey
• Journal: Virology (Virology) Vol. 509 Pg. 90-97 (09 2017) ISSN: 1096-0341 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28624679 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antibodies, Viral
• Influenza Vaccines
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
• Viral Proteins
• NA protein, influenza A virus
• Neuraminidase

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Neutralizing (blood)
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Ferrets
• Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype (genetics, immunology)
• Influenza Vaccines (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Neuraminidase (genetics, immunology)
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (prevention & control)
• Survival Analysis
• Vaccines, Synthetic (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Viral Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• Virus Shedding