title: Evaluation of influenza virus-like particles and Novasome adjuvant as candidate vaccine for avian influenza.
abstract: The development of safe and effective vaccines for avian influenza viruses is a priority for pandemic preparedness. Adjuvants improve the efficacy of vaccines and may allow antigen sparing during a pandemic. We have previously shown that influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) comprised of HA, NA, and M1 proteins represent a candidate vaccine for avian influenza H9N2 virus [Pushko P, Tumpey TM, Fang Bu, Knell J, Robinson R, Smith G. Influenza virus-like particles comprised of the HA, NA, and M1 proteins of H9N2 influenza virus induce protective immune responses in BALB/c mice. Vaccine 2005;23(50):5751-9]. In this study, an H9N2 VLP vaccine and recombinant HA (rH9) vaccine were evaluated in three animal models. The H9N2 VLP vaccine protected mice and ferrets from challenge with A/Hong Kong/1073/99 (H9N2) virus. Novasome adjuvant improved immunogenicity and protection. Positive effect of the adjuvant was also detected using the rH9 vaccine. The results have implications for the development of safe and effective vaccines for avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
authors.affiliation: Novavax Inc., 9920 Belward Campus Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. ppushko@novavax.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pushko
authors.forename: Terrence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tumpey
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Hoeven
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Belser
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Margret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: Gale
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D Craig
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Rick A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bright
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D022701:Virosomes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D022701:Virosomes