Immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of recombinant H5HA1 protein of clade 2.3.2.1a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus expressed in E.coli. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boruah, Jyoti Lakshmi Hati; Venkatesh, Govindarajulu; Nagarajan, Shanmugasundaram; Senthilkumar, Dhanapal; Bhatia, Sandeep; Tosh, Chakradhar; Kumar, Manoj; Rai, Rupal; Tripathi, Sushil; Shukla, Shweta; Dubey, Chandan Kumar; Singh, Vijendra Pal
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 168(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: HPAIV H5N1 -- HA1 -- Prokaryotic expression -- Characterization -- Humoral response -- Cross-protection; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: The global spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in poultry has caused great economic loss to the poultry farmers and industry with significant pandemic threat. The current study involved production of recombinant HA1 protein of clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 HPAIV (rH5HA1) in E.coli and evaluation of its protective efficacy in chickens . Purification under denaturing conditions and refolding by dialysis against buffers containing decreasing concentrations of urea was found to preserve the biological activity of the expressed recombinant protein as assessed by hemagglutination assay, Western blot and ELISA. The Montanide ISA 71 VGA adjuvanted rH5HA1 protein was used for immunization of chickens. Humoral response was maintained at a minimum of 4log2 hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre till 154 days post 2nd booster. We evaluated the protective efficacy of rH5HA1 protein in immunized chickens by challenging them with homologous (2.3.2.1a) and heterologous (2.3.2.1c) clades of H5N1 HPAIV. In both the groups, the HI titre significantly increased ( P < 0.05) after challenge and the virus shedding significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced between 3rd and 14th day post challenge. The virus shedding ratio in oro-pharyngeal swabs did not differ significantly between both the groups except on 7 days post challenge and during the entire experimental period in cloacal swabs. These results indicate that rH5HA1 was able to induce homologous and cross protective immune response in chickens and could be a potential vaccine candidate used for combating the global spread of H5N1 HPAIV threat. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report immunogenicity and protective efficacy of prokaryotic recombinant H5HA1 protein in chicken. Highlights: Expression of recombinant HA1 protein of clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 HPAIV (rH5HA1) in E.coli . Evaluated protective efficacy of rH5HA1 in chickens against homologous and heterologous clades. Virus shedding reduced significantly ( P < 0.05) between 3rd and 14th days post challenge. The rH5HA1 induced homologous and cross protective immune response in immunized chickens.