title: Improved protection against avian influenza H5N1 virus by a single vaccination with virus-like particles in skin using microneedles.
abstract: To develop a more effective vaccination method against H5N1 virus, we investigated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy after skin vaccination using microneedles coated with influenza virus-like particles containing hemagglutinin derived from A/Vietnam/1203/04 H5N1 virus (H5 VLPs). A single microneedle vaccination of mice with H5 VLPs induced increased levels of antibodies and provided complete protection against lethal challenge without apparent disease symptoms. In contrast, intramuscular injection with the same vaccine dose showed low levels of antibodies and provided only partial protection accompanied by severe body weight loss. Post-challenge analysis suggested that improved protection was associated with lower lung viral titers and enhanced generation of recall antibody secreting cells by microneedle vaccination. Thus, this study provides evidence that skin delivery of H5 VLP vaccines using microneedles designed for self-administration induces improved protection compared to conventional intramuscular immunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yeu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: M Jaber
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Kyoung-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ruben O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Donis
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prausnitz
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
authors.forename: Sang-Moo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009339:Needles; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle