Vaccination with soluble headless hemagglutinin protects mice from challenge with divergent influenza viruses. Issue 29 (26th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wohlbold, Teddy John; Nachbagauer, Raffael; Margine, Irina; Tan, Gene S.; Hirsh, Ariana; Krammer, Florian
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 33:Issue 29(2015)
• Page Start: 3314
• Page End: 3321
• Publication Date: 2015-06-26
• Subjects: Influenza virus -- Headless hemagglutinin -- Universal influenza virus vaccine -- Heterosubtypic immunity -- HA stalk; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.05.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Abstract: Current influenza virus vaccines provide solid protection from infection with viruses that are well matched with the vaccine strains. However, they do not protect efficiently against drifted or shifted strains. We developed an antigen based on the conserved stalk domain of the influenza virus hemagglutinin and tested its efficacy as a vaccine in a mouse virus challenge model. Although the antigen lacked the correct conformation of the native stalk domain and was not recognized by a panel of neutralizing stalk-reactive antibodies, it did induce considerable protection against H1N1, H5N1 and H6N1 challenge strains. Protection was enhanced when mice had pre-existing immunity against the stalk domain. Since pre-existing immunity is also present in the human population, we hypothesize that a similar antigen could show efficacy in humans as well.