title: Influenza A viruses: why focusing on M2e-based universal vaccines.
abstract: The threat of highly virulent avian influenza, such as H5N1 and swine-origin H1N1 influenza viruses, bring out an urgent need to develop a universal influenza vaccine, which may provide cross-protection against different strain of influenza A viruses. The extra-domain of influenza M2 protein (M2e), which is almost completely conserved among all subtypes of influenza A viruses, is considered as a promising candidate target for the development of a broad-spectrum recombinant influenza A vaccine. The results of several preclinical studies with M2e protein, with or without carriers, have already proved the successful protection of M2e-based vaccinated animal model against lethal challenge of heterologous and homologous influenza A viruses. Recently, the results of Phase I/II clinical trail studies with M2e-based vaccines have raised hopes for considering these vaccines against seasonal and pandemic influenza A strains. Hence, it is expected that more and more effective and safe universal influenza vaccines based on M2e will be developed for prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Tehran, Iran. smebrahimi@shirazu.ac.ir
authors.forename: Seyyed Mahmoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tebianian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C488937:M2 protein, Influenza A virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins