Vesicular stomatitis virus vectors expressing avian influenza H5 HA induce cross-neutralizing antibodies and long-term protection.
Given the lethality of H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) and the recurring spread from poultry to humans, an effective vaccine against H5N1 viruses may be needed to prevent a pandemic. We generated experimental vaccine vectors based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) from an H5N1 virus isolated in 1997. The HA gene was expressed either from an attenuated wild-type VSV vector or from a single-cycle vector containing a deletion of the VSV G gene. We found that all of the vectors induced potent neutralizing antibody titers against the homologous and antigenically heterologous H5N1 viruses isolated in 2004 and 2005. Vaccination of mice with any combination of prime or prime/boost vectors provided long-lasting protection (>7 months) against challenge with AIV, even in animals receiving a single dose of single-cycle vaccine. Our data indicate that these recombinants are promising vaccine candidates for pandemic influenza.
Schwartz
Jennifer A
JA
Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar St. LH 315, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Buonocore
Linda
L
Roberts
Anjeanette
A
Suguitan
Amorsolo
A
Kobasa
Darwyn
D
Kobinger
Gary
G
Feldmann
Heinz
H
Subbarao
Kanta
K
Rose
John K
JK
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003429:Cross Reactions; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007668:Kidney; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D014765:Viral Vaccines