title: Enhanced Influenza VLP vaccines comprising matrix-2 ectodomain and nucleoprotein epitopes protects mice from lethal challenge.
abstract: The matrix protein 2ectodomain (M2e) of the influenza A virus is a rational target antigen candidate for the development of a universal influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. In this study, a recombinant M2 protein with three tandem copies of M2e (3M2e), nucleoprotein (NP) epitopes and hepatitis B virus core (HBc), were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by column chromatography. Mice immunized with 3M2e-NP-HBc in combination with an oil-in-water SP01 adjuvant produced robust M2e specific antibodies and cellular immune responses. Most importantly, the 3M2e-NP-HBc VLP vaccine provided enhanced protection against a lethal challenge with pandemic 2009 H1N1 and HPAI H5N1 virus through increased survival rates, a significant decrease in viral replication, and obvious alleviation of histopathological lung changes in challenged mice. Our results imply that a cellular immune response to NP is a plausible mechanism mediating this enhanced protection. These findings suggest that 3M2e-NP-HBc VLP has great potential as the basis development of a broadly protective influenza vaccine.
authors: Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing 100071, China.
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Gao
authors: Wenjuan
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Yufeng
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Shaogeng
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Yueqiang
authors: Y
authors: Duan
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Xing
authors: Zhongpeng
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Peirui
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Zhiwei
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Ruisheng
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Xiliang
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Penghui
authors: P
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins