Highly conserved influenza A virus epitope sequences as candidates of H3N2 flu vaccine targets.
This study focused on identifying the conserved epitopes in a single subtype A (H3N2)-as candidates for vaccine targets. We identified a total of 32 conserved epitopes in four viral proteins [22 HA, 4PB1, 3 NA, 3 NP]. Evaluation of conserved epitopes in coverage during 1968-2010 revealed that (1) 12 HA conserved epitopes were highly present in the circulating viruses; (2) the remaining 10 HA conserved epitopes appeared with lower percentage but a significantly increasing trend after 1989 [p<0.001]; and (3) the conserved epitopes in NA, NP and PB1 are also highly frequent in wild-type viruses. These conserved epitopes also covered an extremely high percentage of the 16 vaccine strains during the 42 year period. The identification of highly conserved epitopes using our approach can also be applied to develop broad-spectrum vaccines.
Institute of BioMedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ko-Wen
KW
Wu
Chih-Yi
CY
Chien
Shiao-Wen
SW
Li
Chwan-Chuen
CC
King
Chuan-Hsiung
CH
Chang
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology; D017421:Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014764:Viral Proteins