Protection of mice with recombinant influenza virus neuraminidase.
Contemporary influenza vaccines are standardized with respect to their content of hemagglutinin, the major virus antigen. Although the immunizing effect of viral neuraminidase--the less abundant of the 2 major surface glycoproteins--has been well documented in experimental animals, the importance of the purified recombinant protein has not yet been adequately assessed in animals or humans. We demonstrate that different lots of a baculovirus-derived recombinant N2 protein, in the absence of other influenza virus proteins, can induce neuraminidase-specific antibodies, reduce the replication of both homologous and heterovariant virus in mice, and suppress disease, as it is manifested by total body weight loss.
Kilbourne
Edwin D
ED
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA. ekilbourne@snet.net
Pokorny
Barbara A
BA
Johansson
Bert
B
Brett
Ian
I
Milev
Youli
Y
Matthews
James T
JT
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D009439:Neuraminidase