Cell culture (Vero) derived whole virus (H5N1) vaccine based on wild-type virus strain induces cross-protective immune responses.
The rapid spread and the transmission to humans of avian influenza virus (H5N1) have induced world-wide fears of a new pandemic and raised concerns over the ability of standard influenza vaccine production methods to rapidly supply sufficient amounts of an effective vaccine. We report here on a robust and flexible strategy which uses wild-type virus grown in a continuous cell culture (Vero) system to produce an inactivated whole virus vaccine. Candidate vaccines based on clade 1 and clade 2 influenza H5N1 strains were developed and demonstrated to be highly immunogenic in animal models. The vaccines induce cross-neutralising antibodies, highly cross-reactive T-cell responses and are protective in a mouse challenge model not only against the homologous virus but also against other H5N1 strains, including those from another clade. These data indicate that cell culture-grown whole virus vaccines, based on the wild-type virus, allow the rapid high yield production of a candidate pandemic vaccine.
Kistner
Otfried
O
Baxter AG, Biomedical Research Center, Uferstrasse 15, A-2304 Orth/Donau, Austria.
Howard
M Keith
MK
Spruth
Martin
M
Wodal
Walter
W
Brühl
Peter
P
Gerencer
Marijan
M
Crowe
Brian A
BA
Savidis-Dacho
Helga
H
Livey
Ian
I
Reiter
Manfred
M
Mayerhofer
Ines
I
Tauer
Christa
C
Grillberger
Leopold
L
Mundt
Wolfgang
W
Falkner
Falko G
FG
Barrett
P Noel
PN
D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology*; D014709:Vero Cells
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated