title: A pandemic H1N1 influenza virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-protection in mice.
abstract: Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) represent promising alternative vaccines. However, it is necessary to demonstrate that influenza VLPs confer cross-protection against antigenically distinct viruses. In this study, a VLP vaccine comprising hemagglutinin (HA) and M1 from the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) were used and its ability to induce cross-protective efficacy against heterologous viruses A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) and A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) in mice was assessed. Vaccination with 2009 H1 VLPs induced significantly higher levels of IgG cross-reactive with these heterologous viruses after the second boost compared to after the prime or first boost. Lung virus titers also decreased significantly and the lung cross-reactive IgG response after lethal virus challenge was significantly greater in immunized mice compared to naïve mice. Vaccinated mice showed 100% protection against A/PR/8/34 and A/Caledonia/20/99 viruses with only moderate body weight loss and induction of cross-reactive recall, IgG antibody-secreting cell responses. The variations in HA amino acid sequences and antigenic sites were determined and correlated with induction of cross-protective immunity. These results indicate that VLPs can be used as an effective vaccine that confers cross-protection against antigenically distinct viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University , Seoul , Korea 130-701 .
authors.forename: Kyung-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Inn
authors.forename: Gi-Ja
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Fu-Shi
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Quan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C543345:H1N1 virus hemagglutinin; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C488936:M1 protein, Influenza A virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins