Universal influenza A vaccine: optimization of M2-based constructs.
M2e is the external domain of the influenza A M2-protein. It is minimally immunogenic during infection and conventional vaccination, which explains in part its striking sequence conservation across all human influenza A strains. Previous research has shown that when M2e is linked to an appropriate carrier such as hepatitis B virus core (HBc) particles, it becomes highly immunogenic, eliciting antibodies that fully protect mice against a potentially lethal virus infection. Different M2e-HBc particles and adjuvants suitable for human use were compared for induction of protective immunity. Strong immunogenicity and full protection were obtained after either intraperitoneal or intranasal administration. The most protective particle contained three consecutive M2e-copies linked to the N-terminus of HBc. Although HBc is highly immunogenic, the optimized M2e-HBc vaccine induced an anti-M2e antibody titer even higher than that of anti-HBc.
De Filette
Marina
M
DMBR, Ghent University-VIB, FSVM-building, Ghent (Zwijnaarde), Belgium.
Min Jou
Willy
W
Birkett
Ashley
A
Lyons
Katie
K
Schultz
Brian
B
Tonkyro
Anne
A
Resch
Stephanie
S
Fiers
Walter
W
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C488937:M2 protein, Influenza A virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins; C509609:M2e-HBc influenza vaccine