A plant-produced influenza subunit vaccine protects ferrets against virus challenge.
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.
Mett
Vadim
V
Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE, USA.
Musiychuk
Konstantin
K
Bi
Hong
H
Farrance
Christine E
CE
Horsey
April
A
Ugulava
Natalia
N
Shoji
Yoko
Y
de la Rosa
Patricia
P
Palmer
Gene A
GA
Rabindran
Shailaja
S
Streatfield
Stephen J
SJ
Boyers
Alison
A
Russell
Michael
M
Mann
Alex
A
Lambkin
Robert
R
Oxford
John S
JS
Schild
Geoffrey C
GC
Yusibov
Vidadi
V
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
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; C458881:hemagglutinin fusogenic peptide, influenza virus