title: Immunogenicity and clinical protection against equine influenza by DNA vaccination of ponies.
abstract: Equine influenza A (H3N8) virus infection is a leading cause of respiratory disease in horses, resulting in widespread morbidity and economic losses. As with influenza in other species, equine influenza strains continuously mutate, often requiring the development of new vaccines. Current inactivated (killed) vaccines, while efficacious, only offer limited protection against diverse subtypes and require frequent boosts. Research into new vaccine technologies, including gene-based vaccines, aims to increase the neutralization potency, breadth, and duration of protective immunity. Here, we demonstrate that a DNA vaccine expressing the hemagglutinin protein of equine H3N8 influenza virus generates homologous and heterologous immune responses, and protects against clinical disease and viral replication by homologous H3N8 virus in horses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that needle-free delivery is as efficient and effective as conventional parenteral injection using a needle and syringe. These findings suggest that DNA vaccines offer a safe, effective, and promising alternative approach for veterinary vaccines against equine influenza.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Research Center (VRC), NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ault
authors.forename: Alyse M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zajac
authors.forename: Wing-Pui
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: J Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gorres
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Royals
authors.forename: Chih-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Saran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Zhi-yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Reedy
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sturgill
authors.forename: Allen E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donofrio-Newman
authors.forename: Amanda A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Udeni B R
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Balasuriya
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Horohov
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nabel
authors.forename: Srinivas S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D053123:Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA