Recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the PR/8 influenza hemagglutinin gene overcomes the impaired immune response and increased susceptibility of old mice to influenza infection.
Elderly humans have increased morbidity and mortality after viral influenza despite immunization. A mouse model of influenza infection was used to search for a more effective way to induce immunity to influenza. Old (18 months) BALB/c mice were more susceptible to influenza pneumonia than young (2 months) BALB/c mice after intranasal challenge with PR/8 influenza virus despite prior immunization with influenza virus. The decreased resistance to live influenza virus challenge was associated with an impaired generation of anti-hemagglutinin antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in old mice. In contrast, immunization of old mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the PR/8 influenza hemagglutinin gene protected them from intranasal challenge with live influenza virus and generated high levels of anti-PR/8 influenza virus hemagglutinin antibody and PR/8-specific cytotoxic T cells. Recombinant vaccine overcame the age-associated immune defect that follows the administration of conventional viral vaccine.
Ben-Yehuda
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Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York.
Ehleiter
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D
Hu
A R
AR
Weksler
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ME
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines