title: Intranasal immunization with influenza antigens conjugated with cholera toxin subunit B stimulates broad spectrum immunity against influenza viruses.
abstract: Frequent mutation of influenza viruses keep vaccinated and non-vaccinated populations vulnerable to new infections, causing serious burdens to public health and the economy. Vaccination with universal influenza vaccines would be the best way to effectively protect people from infection caused by mismatched or unforeseen influenza viruses. Presently, there is no FDA approved universal influenza vaccine. In this study, we expressed and purified a fusion protein comprising of influenza matrix 2 protein ectodomain peptides, a centralized influenza hemagglutinin stem region, and cholera toxin subunit B. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with this novel artificial antigen resulted in potent humoral immune responses, including induction of specific IgA and IgG, and broad protection against infection by multiple influenza viruses. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that when used as a mucosal antigen, cholera toxin subunit B improved antigen-stimulated T cell and memory B cell responses.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Junwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Arévalo
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Posadas
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX USA.
authors.forename: Mingtao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002772:Cholera Toxin
keywords: broad spectrum vaccine; cholera toxin subunit B; influenza; intranasal vaccination; protective immunity