title: A plant-produced influenza subunit vaccine protects ferrets against virus challenge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza A viruses are of major concern for public health, causing worldwide epidemics associated with high morbidity and mortality. Vaccines are critical for protection against influenza, but given the recent emergence of new strains with pandemic potential, and some limitations of the current production systems, there is a need for new approaches for vaccine development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of plant-produced influenza antigens. Method We engineered, using influenza A/Wyoming/3/03 (H3N2) as a model virus, the stem and globular domains of hemagglutinin (HA) produced in plants as fusions to a carrier protein and used purified antigens with and without adjuvant for ferret immunization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These plant-produced antigens were highly immunogenic and conferred complete protection against infection in the ferret challenge model. The addition of plant-produced neuraminidase was shown to enhance the immune response in ferrets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plants can be used as a production vehicle for vaccine development against influenza. Domains of HA can generate protective immune responses in ferrets.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mett
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Musiychuk
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Farrance
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horsey
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ugulava
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de la Rosa
authors.forename: Gene A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Shailaja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabindran
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Streatfield
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyers
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambkin
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Oxford
authors.forename: Geoffrey C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: Vidadi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yusibov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; C458881:hemagglutinin fusogenic peptide, influenza virus