A novel liposomal influenza vaccine (INFLUSOME-VAC) containing hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and IL-2 or GM-CSF induces protective anti-neuraminidase antibodies cross-reacting with a wide spectrum of influenza A viral strains.
A liposomal influenza vaccine (INFLUSOME-VAC) was developed with the objective of overcoming the major drawbacks of the currently used influenza vaccines: their relatively low efficacy in certain high-risk groups (the elderly, infants, the immunosuppressed) and the need for annual immunization. INFLUSOME-VAC consists of liposomes containing the viral surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) derived from various influenza strains and IL-2 or GM-CSF, as an adjuvant. Vaccination of mice showed that, whereas conventional vaccines induced a low- and short-term response against HA and very low or no anti-NA response, INFLUSOME-VAC produced high titers of both anti-HA and anti-NA antibodies (Abs) in young and old mice that persisted for at least 6 months. Moreover, the anti-NA Abs efficiently cross-reacted with several N2 viral subtypes spanning 20 years, and such vaccines afforded partial protection against heterosubtypic viral infection.
Babai
I
I
Hadassah Medical School, The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Barenholz
Y
Y
Zakay-Rones
Z
Z
Greenbaum
E
E
Samira
S
S
Hayon
I
I
Rochman
M
M
Kedar
E
E
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008081:Liposomes; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D009439:Neuraminidase