title: Optimal designs of an HA-based DNA vaccine against H7 subtype influenza viruses.
abstract: The outbreak of a novel H7N9 influenza virus in 2013 has raised serious concerns for the potential of another avian-source pandemic influenza. Effective vaccines against H7N9 virus are important in the prevention and control of any major outbreak. Novel vaccination technologies are useful additions to existing approaches. In the current report, DNA vaccine studies were conducted to identify the optimal design of an H7 HA antigen using the HA gene from a previously reported H7N7 virus that is lethal in humans as the model antigen. New Zealand White rabbits were immunized with DNA vaccines expressing 1 of 3 forms of H7 HA antigen inserts encoding the HA gene from the same H7N7 virus. High-level H7 HA-specific IgG was detected by ELISA, and functional antibodies were confirmed by hemagglutination inhibition assay and pseudotyped virus-based neutralization assay against viruses expressing HA antigens from either the previous H7N7 virus or the novel H7N9 virus. HA antigen design under the tissue plasminogen activator leader (tPA) was the most immunogenic. The data presented in the current report confirm the immunogenicity of the H7 HA antigen and provide useful guidance to prepare for an optimized H7 HA DNA vaccine to help to control the emerging H7N9 virus if and when it is needed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases; The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Wuchun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Shixia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zuhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053126:Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C109963:hemagglutinin, avian influenza A virus
keywords: H7N7; H7N9; antibody; cross protection; influenza infection; neutralizing antibody; vaccine