H5N1 VLP vaccine induced protection in ferrets against lethal challenge with highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses

In this study, recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) were evaluated as a candidate vaccine against emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential. The VLPs are composed of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix 1 (M1) proteins of the H5N1 A/Indonesia/05/2005 (clade 2.1; [Indo/05]) virus, which were expressed using baculovirus in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. Ferrets received either 2 injections of the VLP vaccine at escalating doses (based on HA content), recombinant HA, or were mock vaccinated. Vaccinated ferrets were then challenged with either H5N1 Indo/05 or H5N1 A/Viet Nam 1203/2004 (VN/04) wild-type viruses. All ferrets that received the VLP vaccine survived regardless of the VLP dose or challenge strain, whereas seven of eight mock vaccinated ferrets died. The VLP vaccine induced HAI antibodies against the homologous H5N1 clade 2.1 strain, as well as heterologous strains from H5N1 clades 1, 2.2, and 2.3. The magnitude of the HAI titers correlated with VLP dose. Neutralizing antibody responses against the Indo/05 and VN/04 strains showed a similar pattern. Affinity of the anti-HA antibodies raised by the H5N1 Indo/05 VLPs had a higher association rate to the homologous clade 2.1 HA than to the clade 1 (VN/04) HA; however, once bound, antibodies had similar slow disassociation rates. These results provide support for continued development of the H5N1 VLPs as a candidate vaccine against pandemic influenza. Exploration of immunologic correlates of protection for H5N1 vaccines beyond HAI and neutralizing antibody responses is warranted.     

Preclinical evaluation of a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine against influenza A/H5N1 viruses

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype are responsible for an increasing number of infections in humans since 2003. More than 60% of the infections is lethal and new infections are reported frequently. In the light of the pandemic threat caused by these events the rapid availability of safe and effective vaccines is desirable. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the HA gene of an influenza A/H5N1 virus is a promising candidate vaccine that induced protective immunity against infection with homologous and heterologous influenza A/H5N1 viruses in mice. We also evaluated the recombinant MVA vector expressing the HA of influenza A/H5N1 virus A/Vietnam/1194/04 (MVA-HA-VN/04) in non-human primates. Cynomolgus macaques were immunized twice and then challenged with influenza virus A/Vietnam/1194/04 (clade 1) or A/Indonesia/5/05 (clade 2.1) to assess the level of protective immunity. Immunization with MVA-HA-VN/04 induced (cross-reactive) antibodies and prevented virus replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract and the development of severe necrotizing bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Therefore MVA-HA-VN/04 is a promising vaccine candidate for the induction of protective immunity against highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 viruses.     

Suboptimal protection against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses from Vietnam in ducks vaccinated with commercial poultry vaccines

Domestic ducks are the second most abundant poultry species in many Asian countries including Vietnam, and play a critical role in the epizootiology of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) [FAO]. In this study, we examined the protective efficacy in ducks of two commercial H5N1 vaccines widely used in Vietnam; Re-1 containing A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 hemagglutinin (HA) clade 0 antigens, and Re-5 containing A/duck/Anhui/1/2006 HA clade 2.3.4 antigens. Ducks received two doses of either vaccine at 7 and at 14 or 21 days of age followed by challenge at 30 days of age with viruses belonging to the HA clades 1.1, 2.3.4.3, 2.3.2.1.A and 2.3.2.1.B isolated between 2008 and 2011 in Vietnam. Ducks vaccinated with the Re-1 vaccine were protected after infection with the two H5N1 HPAI viruses isolated in 2008 (HA clades 1.1 and 2.3.4.3) showing no mortality and limited virus shedding. The Re-1 and Re-5 vaccines conferred 90–100% protection against mortality after challenge with the 2010 H5N1 HPAI viruses (HA clade 2.3.2.1.A); but vaccinated ducks shed virus for more than 7 days after challenge. Similarly, the Re-1 and Re-5 vaccines only showed partial protection against the 2011 H5N1 HPAI viruses (HA clade 2.3.2.1.A and 2.3.2.1.B), with a high proportion of vaccinated ducks shedding virus for more than 10 days. Furthermore, 50% mortality was observed in ducks vaccinated with Re-1 and challenged with the 2.3.2.1.B virus. The HA proteins of the 2011 challenge viruses had the greatest number of amino acid differences from the two vaccines as compared to the viruses from 2008 and 2009, which correlates with the lesser protection observed with these viruses. These studies demonstrate the suboptimal protection conferred by the Re-1 and Re-5 commercial vaccines in ducks against H5N1 HPAI clade 2.3.2.1 viruses, and underscore the importance of monitoring vaccine efficacy in the control of H5N1 HPAI in ducks.     

Long-lasting heterologous antibody responses after sequential vaccination with A/Indonesia/5/2005 and A/Vietnam/1203/2004 pre-pandemic influenza A(H5N1) virus vaccines

BackgroundAvian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have caused sporadic infections in humans and thus they pose a significant global health threat. Among symptomatic patients the case fatality rate has been ca. 50%. H5N1 viruses exist in multiple clades and subclades and several candidate vaccines have been developed to prevent A(H5N1) infection as a principal measure for preventing the disease.MethodsSerum antibodies against various influenza A(H5N1) clade viruses were measured in adults by ELISA-based microneutralization and haemagglutination inhibition tests before and after vaccination with two different A(H5N1) vaccines in 2009 and 2011.ResultsTwo doses of AS03-adjuvanted A/Indonesia/5/2005 vaccine induced good homologous but poor heterologous neutralizing antibody responses against different clade viruses. However, non-adjuvanted A/Vietnam/1203/2004 booster vaccination in 2011 induced very strong and long-lasting homologous and heterologous antibody responses while homologous response remained weak in naïve subjects.ConclusionsSequential vaccination with two different A(H5N1) pre-pandemic vaccines induced long-lasting high level cross-clade immunity against influenza A(H5N1) strains, thus supporting a prime-boost vaccination strategy in pandemic preparedness plans.     

Experimental challenge of chicken vaccinated with commercially available H5 vaccines reveals loss of protection to some highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strains circulating in Hong Kong/China

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus continues to circulate in poultry in Asia and Africa posing a threat to both public and animal health. Vaccination, used as an adjunct to improved bio-security and stamping-out policies, contributed to protecting poultry in Hong Kong from HPAI H5N1 infection in 2004–2008 although the virus was repeatedly detected in dead wild birds. The detection of clade 2.3.4 H5N1 viruses in poultry markets and a farm in Hong Kong in 2008 raised the question whether this virus has changed to evade protection from the H5 vaccines in use. We tested the efficacy of three commercial vaccines (Nobilis, Poulvac and Harbin Re-5 vaccine) in specific pathogen free white leghorn chickens against a challenge with A/chicken/Hong Kong/8825-2/2008 (clade 2.3.4) isolated from vaccinated poultry in Hong Kong and A/chicken/Hong Kong/782/2009 (clade 2.3.2). Harbin Re5 vaccine provided the best, albeit not complete protection against challenge with the clade 2.3.4 virus. All three vaccines provided good protection from death and significantly reduced virus shedding following challenge with the clade 2.3.2 virus. Only Harbin Re-5 was able to completely protect chickens from virus shedding as well as mortality. Sera from vaccinated chickens had lower geometric hemagglutination inhibition titers against A/chicken/Hong Kong/8825-2/08, as compared to two other clade 2.3.4 and one clade 0 virus. Alignment of amino-acid sequences of the haemagglutinin of A/chicken/Hong Kong/8825-2/08 and the other H5 viruses revealed several mutations in positions including 69, 71, 83, 95, 133,140, 162, 183, 189, 194 and 270 (H5 numbering) which may correlate with loss of vaccine protection. Our results indicated that the tested HPAI H5N1 (2.3.4) virus has undergone antigenic changes that allow it to evade immunity from poultry vaccines. This highlights the need for continued surveillance and monitoring of vaccine induced immunity, with experimental vaccine challenge studies being done where indicated.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-reactivity of antibodies induced by oil-in-water emulsion adjuvanted influenza H5N1 virus monovalent vaccines

BackgroundCross-clade immunogenic stockpiled H5N1 vaccines may decrease the morbidity and transmission of infection during the initial phase of influenza pandemic. Meta-analysis of cross-reactive antibodies induced by oil-in-water emulsion adjuvanted (OWEA) influenza H5N1 virus monovalent vaccines with circulating heterologous H5N1 virus strains, isolated from human infections was performed.MethodsLiterature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, The Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry was conducted up through December 1, 2015. Methodologically qualified studies were included for (1) use of two doses of licensed OWEA (AS03 or MF59) egg-derived, inactivated influenza H5N1 virus monovalent vaccine, (2) participant age between 18 and 64 years, and (3) evaluation of immunogenicity outcome for one or more subclade. Meta-analysis assessed the cross-reactivity of antibodies elicited by clade 1 adjuvanted vaccine strain against clade 2.1 virus strain (A/Vietnam/1194/2004 vs. A/Indonesia/05/2005); and separately against clade 2.2 virus strain (A/Vietnam/1194/2004 vs. A/turkey/Turkey/1/05); and clade 2.1 adjuvanted vaccine strain against clade 1 virus strain (A/Indonesia/05/2005 vs. A/Vietnam/1194/2004). Quantitative publication bias and influence analysis was conducted to evaluate potential impact of unpublished or new studies on the robustness of meta-analysis.ResultsOf 960 articles, 53 qualified for quality assessment and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. All assessed clade pairs elicited cross-reactive antibodies (clade 1 against clade 2.1 and 2.2; clade 2.1 against clade 1, 2.2, and 2.3). Heterologous strains of same sub-clade are likely to elicit higher cross-reactive antibodies.ConclusionsOWEA influenza H5N1 virus monovalent vaccines exhibit broad cross-clade immunogenicity, a desired feature for vaccine stockpiling not yet demonstrated by unadjuvanted vaccines. In case of an impending H5N1 virus pandemic, stockpiled OWEA influenza H5N1 virus monovalent vaccines may allow population priming that could slow down the course of pandemic and could offer additional time needed for development of an effective strain specific vaccine supply.     

Cross-protective immunity against multiple influenza virus subtypes by a novel modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectored vaccine in mice

Development of an influenza vaccine that provides cross-protective immunity remains a challenge. Candidate vaccines based on a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) viral vector expressing antigens from influenza (MVA/Flu) viruses were constructed. A vaccine candidate, designated MVA/HA₁/C13L/NP, that expresses the hemagglutinin from pandemic H1N1 (A/California/04/09) and the nucleoprotein (NP) from highly pathogenic H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1203/04) fused to a secretory signal sequence from vaccinia virus was highly protective. The vaccine elicited strong antibody titers to homologous H1N1 viruses while cross-reactive antibodies to heterologous viruses were not detectable. In mice, this MVA/HA₁/C13L/NP vaccine conferred complete protection against lethal challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1), A/Norway/3487-2/09 (pandemic H1N1) or A/Influenza/Puerto Rico/8/34 (seasonal H1N1) and partial protection (57.1%) against challenge with seasonal H3N2 virus (A/Aichi/68). The protective efficacy of the vaccine was not affected by pre-existing immunity to vaccinia. Our findings highlight MVA as suitable vector to express multiple influenza antigens that could afford broad cross-protective immunity against multiple subtypes of influenza virus.     

Cross-clade protective immunity of H5N1 influenza vaccines in a mouse model

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses evolved into several clades, leading to appreciably distinct antigenicities of their hemagglutinins. As such, candidate H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccines for human use should be sought. Here, to evaluate fundamental immunogenic variations between H5N1 vaccines, we prepared four inactivated H5N1 test vaccines from different phylogenetic clades (clade 1, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3.4) in accordance with the WHO recommendation, and tested their cross-clade immunity in a mouse model by vaccination followed by challenge with heterologous virulent viruses. All H5N1 vaccines tested provided full or partial cross-clade protective immunity, except one clade 2.2-based vaccine, which did not protect mice from clade 2.3.4 virus challenge. Among the test vaccines, a clade 2.1-based vaccine possessed the broadest-spectrum cross-immunity. These results suggest that currently stockpiled pre-pandemic vaccines, especially clade 2.1-based vaccines, will likely be useful as backup vaccines in a pandemic situation, even one involving antigenic-drifted viruses.     

Cross-protective immunity in mice induced by live-attenuated or inactivated vaccines against highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) viruses

Because of the time required to identify and produce an antigenically well-matched pandemic vaccine, vaccines that offer broader cross-reactive immunity and protection are desirable. We have compared a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) based on a related H5 hemagglutinin (HA) from a nonpathogenic avian influenza virus, A/Duck/Pottsdam/1042-6/86 (H5N2), for the ability to induce cross-reactive immunity and/or cross-protective efficacy against a contemporary highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses. Both LAIV and IIV provided cross-protection from systemic infection, severe disease, and death following lethal challenges with antigenically distinct A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (VN/1203) virus. Substantial levels of serum anti-VN/1203 HA IgG were detected in mice that received either IIV or LAIV, while nasal wash anti-VN/1203 HA IgA was detected in mice that received LAIV. Formulation of IIV with alum adjuvant augmented neutralizing antibody responses and protective efficacy. These results demonstrated that vaccination of mice with H5 IIV or LAIV induced a high degree of cross-protection from illness and death following lethal challenges with a heterologous H5N1 virus.     

B cell responses to H5 influenza HA in human subjects vaccinated with a drifted variant

B cell responses after immunization with a drifted H5 influenza/A/Vietnam/1203/04 vaccine were characterized in the peripheral blood of human subjects primed with experimental recombinant H5 influenza A/Hong Kong/156/97 vaccine. Antibody secreting cells were assayed by ELISPOT against a panel of recombinant hemagglutinin and control proteins. Increased frequencies of H5 HA-specific antibody secreting and memory B cells could be observed within 7 days of re-vaccination. Furthermore, these responses were cross-reactive to both H5 HA variants, but not H3 or avian H6 HA strains. These observations suggest prior vaccination against H5 influenza HA induces cellular immune responses that cross-react among drifted variants, without precluding a response to new, or existing HA strains.     

Hemozoin as a novel adjuvant for inactivated whole virion influenza vaccine

Because vaccination is an effective means to protect humans from influenza viruses, extensive efforts have been made to develop not only new vaccines, but also for new adjuvants to enhance the efficacy of existing inactivated vaccines. Here, we examined the adjuvanticity of synthetic hemozoin, a synthetic version of the malarial by-product hemozoin, on the vaccine efficacy of inactivated whole influenza viruses in a mouse model. We found that mice immunized twice with hemozoin-adjuvanted inactivated A/California/04/2009 (H1N1pdm09) or A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) virus elicited higher virus-specific antibody responses than did mice immunized with non-adjuvanted counterparts. Furthermore, mice immunized with hemozoin-adjuvanted inactivated viruses were better protected from lethal challenge with influenza viruses than were mice immunized with non-adjuvanted inactivated vaccines. Our results show that hemozoin improves the immunogenicity of inactivated influenza viruses, and is thus a promising adjuvant for inactivated whole virion influenza vaccines.     

Nasal delivery of Protollin-adjuvanted H5N1 vaccine induces enhanced systemic as well as mucosal immunity in mice

Sporadic, yet frequent human infections with avian H5N1 influenza A viruses continue to pose a potential pandemic threat. Poor immunogenicity of unadjuvanted H5N1 vaccines warrants developing novel adjuvants and formulations as well as alternate delivery systems to improve their immunogenicity and efficacy. Here, we show that Protollin, a nasal adjuvant composed of Neisseria meningitides outer membrane proteins non-covalently linked to Shigella flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide, is a potent nasal adjuvant for an inactivated split virion H5N1 clade 1 A/Viet Nam1203/2004 (A/VN/1203/04) vaccine in a mouse model. Protollin-adjuvanted vaccines elicited enhanced serum protective hemagglutination inhibition titers, mucosal IgA responses, and H5N1-specific cell-mediated immunity that resulted in complete protection against a lethal challenge with a homologous virus as well as a heterologous clade 2 virus A/Indonesia/05/2005 (A/IN/05/05). Detailed analysis of adaptive immunity revealed that Protollin increased the frequency of lymphoid- as well as local tissue-resident antibody-secreting cells, local germinal center reaction of B cells, broad-spectrum of CD4 T cell response. Our findings suggest that nasal delivery of H5N1 vaccine with Protollin adjuvant can overcome the poor immunogenicity of H5N1 vaccines, induce both cellular and humoral immune responses, enhance protection against challenge with clade 1 and clade 2 H5N1 viruses and achieve significant antigen dose-sparing.     

Influenza-pseudotyped Gag virus-like particle vaccines provide broad protection against highly pathogenic avian influenza challenge

Influenza-pseudotyped Gag virus-like particles (VLPs) were produced via the expression of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA) and the murine leukemia virus Gag product in the baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Hemagglutination specific activities of sucrose gradient-purified VLPs were similar to those of egg-grown influenza viruses but particle morphologies were gamma retrovirus-like in the form of consistent 100 nm spheres. Immunization of mice and ferrets demonstrated robust immunogenicity and protection from challenge with no measurable morbidity. Ferret data were striking in that immunization with H5N1 VLPs representing either A/Vietnam/1203/04 or A/Indonesia/5/05 resulted in solid protection against highly pathogenic A/Vietnam/1203/04 challenge with no detectable virus in the upper respiratory tract post-challenge in either group. H1N1 VLP immunization of ferrets resulted in partial protection against H5N1 challenge with markedly accelerated virus clearance from the upper respiratory tract relative to controls. The immunogenicity of influenza-pseudotyped VLPs was not dependent on the adjuvant properties of replication competent contaminating baculovirus. These data demonstrate robust vaccine protection of Gag-based, influenza-pseudotyped VLPs carrying a variety of influenza antigens and suggest applicability toward a number of additional respiratory viruses.     

Inactivated influenza H5N1 whole-virus vaccine with aluminum adjuvant induces homologous and heterologous protective immunities against lethal challenge with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses in a mouse model

In response to recent outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), the development of an effective H5N1 influenza vaccine is urgently important. We assessed the efficacy of two inactivated H5N1 whole-virus vaccines, rgHK213/03 and rgVNJP1203/04, generated by reverse genetics in a mouse model in the presence or absence of aluminum hydroxide (alum) adjuvant. Mice immunized with rgHK213/03 vaccine produced sufficient levels of serum antibodies that were cross-reactive to recent heterologous HPAIV-H5N1 virus, A/Turkey/12/06. The vaccinated mice also elicited protective immunity against challenge with both homologous and heterologous HPAIV-H5N1 viruses. These immune responses were enhanced by addition of alum adjuvant, resulting in antigen sparing of vaccine. On the other hand, mice immunized with rgVNJP1203/04 vaccine had low levels of serum antibodies and less protective immunity than that elicited with rgHK213/03 vaccine regardless of addition of alum adjuvant. Our study suggests that rgHK213/03 vaccine is still useful as a backup vaccine for recent H5N1 viruses and that if rgVNJP1203/04 vaccine is employed, more vaccine antigen would be necessary to induce sufficient immunity.     

M2SR,a novel live influenza vaccine,protects mice and ferrets against highly pathogenic avian influenza

The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses has heightened global concern about the threat posed by pandemic influenza. To address the need for a highly effective universal influenza vaccine, we developed a novel M2-deficient single replication (M2SR) influenza vaccine virus and previously reported that it provided strong heterosubtypic protection against seasonal influenza viruses in mice. In the current study, we assessed M2SR induced protection against H5N1 influenza in mice and ferrets.Mice were intranasally inoculated with M2SR viruses containing the HA and NA from A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (M2SR H5N1) or A/California/07/2009 (M2SR H1N1). All M2SR vaccinated mice survived lethal challenge with influenza A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1), whereas 40% of mice vaccinated with recombinant H5 HA and none of the naïve controls survived. M2SR H5N1 provided sterile immunity, whereas low levels of virus were detected in the lungs of some M2SR H1N1 vaccinated mice. In contrast, recombinant H5 HA vaccinated mice and naïve controls showed systemic infection.M2SR H5N1 induced strong serum and mucosal antibody responses (IgG and IgA classes) against H5 HA, with high hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers. In contrast, while M2SR H1N1 elicited cross-reactive antibodies recognizing the H5 HA2 stalk region or the neuraminidase, no HAI activity against H5N1 virus was detected after M2SR H1N1 immunization.Both M2SR H5N1 and H1N1 also protected ferrets against lethal challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/2004. A prime–boost regimen provided optimal protection with no virus detected in the respiratory tract or brain after challenge. As in the mouse model, only the M2SR H5N1 vaccine induced HAI antibodies against the challenge virus in ferrets, while the M2SR H1N1 was able to provide protection without the induction of HAI antibodies.In summary, effective protection against highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus was provided by both homologous H5N1 M2SR and heterologous H1N1 M2SR demonstrating the cross-protective attributes of the M2SR platform.     

Characterization of an influenza A H5N2 reassortant as a candidate for live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines against highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses with pandemic potential

We generated a high-growth 7:1 reassortant (Len17/H5) that contained the hemagglutinin (HA) gene from non-pathogenic A/Duck/Potsdam/1402-6/86 (H5N2) virus and other genes from the cold-adapted (ca) attenuated A/Leningrad/134/17/57 (H2H2) strain. Len17/H5 demonstrated an attenuated phenotype in mice and did not infect chickens. Mice administered Len17/H5 either as a live-attenuated intranasal vaccine or as an inactivated intramuscular vaccine were substantially protected from lethal challenge with highly pathogenic A/Hong Kong/483/97 (H5N1) virus and were protected from pulmonary infection with antigenically distinct A/Hong Kong/213/2003 (H5N1) virus. The cross-protective effect correlated with the levels of virus-specific mucosal IgA and/or serum IgG antibodies. Our results suggest a new strategy of using classical genetic reassortment between a high-growth ca H2N2 strain and antigenically related non-pathogenic avian viruses to prepare live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines for influenza pandemic.     

Evaluation of influenza virus-like particles and Novasome adjuvant as candidate vaccine for avian influenza

The development of safe and effective vaccines for avian influenza viruses is a priority for pandemic preparedness. Adjuvants improve the efficacy of vaccines and may allow antigen sparing during a pandemic. We have previously shown that influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) comprised of HA, NA, and M1 proteins represent a candidate vaccine for avian influenza H9N2 virus [Pushko P, Tumpey TM, Fang Bu, Knell J, Robinson R, Smith G. Influenza virus-like particles comprised of the HA, NA, and M1 proteins of H9N2 influenza virus induce protective immune responses in BALB/c mice. Vaccine 2005;23(50):5751-9]. In this study, an H9N2 VLP vaccine and recombinant HA (rH9) vaccine were evaluated in three animal models. The H9N2 VLP vaccine protected mice and ferrets from challenge with A/Hong Kong/1073/99 (H9N2) virus. Novasome adjuvant improved immunogenicity and protection. Positive effect of the adjuvant was also detected using the rH9 vaccine. The results have implications for the development of safe and effective vaccines for avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.     

Assessment of viral replication in eggs and HA protein yield of pre-pandemic H5N1 candidate vaccine viruses

H5N1 infection and the potential for spread from human to human continue to pose a severe public health concern. Since vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent a potential H5N1 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers (CCs) and Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) engineered and developed a panel of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine viruses for pandemic vaccine preparedness as well as production of antigen potency testing reagents (reference antigen and reference anti-serum) for vaccine standardization. To develop a strategy utilizing a number of biochemical methods for the characterization of the viral growth properties and protein yield in eggs, we have selected eight H5N1 pre-pandemic viruses and determined the viral Egg Infectious Dose 50 (EID₅₀), total protein yield, hemagglutinin (HA) to nucleoprotein (NP) ratios (HA:NP), and HA1 content of each virus. Our results showed that all the tested H5N1 vaccine viruses grew to high titers in eggs. The total viral protein yield varies within a narrow range, whereas there were greater differences in the HA:NP protein ratios among the eight viruses. The RP-HPLC based HA1 content analysis demonstrated that the viruses A/Anhui/1/2010, A/Hubei/1/2005, and A/goose/Guiyang/337/2006 contained higher HA contents than other five viruses including A/Vietnam/1203/2003. Our approach for analyzing virus growth and protein yield will allow us identify optimal vaccine virus in a timely manner. In addition, we successfully purified the HA proteins of H5N1 vaccine viruses by optimizing bromelain cleavage conditions. Our studies on the HA protein purification may improve the quality control of the production of influenza vaccine test reagent.     

Evaluation of the cellular immune responses induced by a non-adjuvanted inactivated whole virus A/H5N1/VN/1203 pandemic influenza vaccine in humans

In the present study the homologous and heterologous type and subtype specific cellular immune response induced by a wild type inactivated whole virus H5N1 Influenza (A/Vietnam/1203/2004) vaccine was evaluated. Two immunizations with the Vero cell derived H5N1 influenza vaccine on Day 0 and Day 21 induced significant H5N1 vaccine specific and H5 haemagglutinin specific clade and cross-clade reactive CD4⁺ T cell responses, which were maintained at significant levels for at least 6 months. The H5N1 vaccine specific response cross-reacted with the H1N1, but not with H3N2 or B seasonal Influenza strains. The vaccine significantly increased the number of H5N1 specific and H5 haemagglutinin specific memory B cells, 6 months after the primary immunization, however no H1N1 specific cross-reactivity was observed. Importantly, the inactivated whole virus H5N1 vaccine was just as effective in inducing CD4⁺ T cell and memory B cell response in the elderly (60 years or over) as in the adult population (18-59 years).     

A computationally designed H5 antigen shows immunological breadth of coverage and protects against drifting avian strains

Since the first identification of the H5N1 Goose/Guangdong lineage in 1996, this highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has spread worldwide, becoming endemic in domestic poultry. Sporadic transmission to humans has raised concerns of a potential pandemic and underscores the need for a broad cross-protective influenza vaccine. Here, we tested our previously described methodology, termed Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA), to generate a novel hemagglutinin (HA) gene, termed COBRA-2, that was based on H5 HA sequences from 2005 to 2006. The COBRA-2 HA virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines were used to vaccinate chickens and the immune responses were compared to responses elicited by VLP’s expressing HA from A/whooper swan/Mongolia/244/2005 (WS/05), a representative 2005 vaccine virus from clade 2.2. To support this evaluation a hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) breadth panel was developed consisting of phylogenetically and antigenically diverse H5 strains in circulation from 2005 to 2006, as well as recent drift variants (2008 – 2014). We found that the COBRA-2 VLP vaccines elicited robust HAI titers against this entire breadth panel, whereas the VLP vaccine based upon the recommended WS/05 HA only elicited HAI responses against a subset of strains. Furthermore, while all vaccines protected chickens against challenge with the WS/05 virus, only the human COBRA-2 VLP vaccinated birds were protected (80%) against a recent drifted clade 2.3.2.1B, A/duck/Vietnam/NCVD-672/2011 (VN/11) virus. This is the first report to demonstrate seroprotective antibody responses against genetically diverse clades and sub-clades of H5 viruses and protective efficacy against a recent drifted variant using a globular head based design strategy.