title: Protection against lethal influenza with a viral mimic.
abstract: Despite countermeasures against influenza virus that prevent (vaccines) and treat (antivirals) infection, this upper respiratory tract human pathogen remains a global health burden, causing both seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. More potent and safe new vaccine technologies would contribute significantly to the battle against influenza and other respiratory infections. Using plasmid-based reverse genetics techniques, we have developed a single-cycle infectious influenza virus (sciIV) with immunoprotective potential. In our sciIV approach, the fourth viral segment, which codes for the receptor-binding and fusion protein hemagglutinin (HA), has been removed. Thus, upon infection of normal cells, although no infectious progeny are produced, the expression of other viral proteins occurs and is immunogenic. Consequently, sciIV is protective against influenza homologous and heterologous viral challenges in a mouse model. Vaccination with sciIV protects in a dose- and replication-dependent manner, which is attributed to both humoral responses and T cells. Safety, immunogenicity, and protection conferred by sciIV vaccination were also demonstrated in ferrets, where this immunization additionally blocked direct and aerosol transmission events. All together, our studies suggest that sciIV may have potential as a broadly protective vaccine against influenza virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Steven F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Sastre
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Topham
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sobrido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059386:Reverse Genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic