title: Retrovirus-expressed hemagglutinin protects against lethal influenza virus infections.
abstract: An influenza virus hemagglutinin gene, H7, has been expressed in a replication-competent Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus-derived vector. This virus, P1/H7, expressed a glycosylated precursor of the H7 protein which was processed to a mature form and transported to the cell surface. The expressed H7 glycoprotein could not be detected in P1/H7 virus particles. A P1/H7 stock which expressed 5 to 10% of the level of H7 observed in influenza virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts was used to immunize 1-month-old chickens. This immunization resulted in low or undetectable levels of hemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing antibody. Despite the low serum response, challenge with a highly pathogenic H7N7 virus revealed complete protection against lethal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40292.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Naeve
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000941:Antigens; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic