口蹄疫病毒VP1高效植物表达载体构建及鉴定

采用高保真PCR方法从pGEM-VP1-T质粒扩出VP1基因,定向克隆到含DHA的融合中间载体pUC18-DHA,得到pUC18-VP1-DHA,经测序证实核酸序列正确后,再亚克隆到转化范围广,转化效率高,且含有双增强子的高效植物双元表达载体pGreen0029-GFP上,获得含VP1融合DHA基因的植物双元表达载体pGreen0029-VP1-DHA,采用电击法将含VP1的植物表达载体转入根癌农杆菌G3101中,获得了含VP1基因的双元植物表达载体,为下一步的广范围转基因植物表达研究奠定了基础。     

含霍乱肠毒素B亚单位基因植物表达载体的构建

构建含CTB基因的植物双元表达载体,采用高保真PCR方法调出CTB基因,经测序证实核酸序列正确后,再亚克隆到含植物表达调控原件的载体上,采用冻融法和电击法,将含CTB的植物表达载体转入根癌农杆菌中,通过一系列分子克隆的方法获得含CTB基因的植物双元表达载体pBI-CTB和pBI-CTBK,并经酶切证实。     

禽流感病毒H9N2血凝素基因和神经氨酸酶因在大肠杆菌中的表达

克隆、表达和鉴定禽流感病毒H9N2 HA,NA基因序列,为制备抗体和基因工程疫苗打下基础。在成功克隆禽流感病毒H9N2全长HA、NA基因并测序的基础上,将部分基因序列克隆到表达载体pET32a(+)上,全基因序列克隆到表达载体pGEX4T-1上,构建了重组表达质粒pET32a(+)/HA(截短)、pET32a(+)/NA(截短)、pGEX4T-1/HA、pGEX4T-1/NA,转化大肠杆菌BL21/rosetta,IPTG诱导表达,利用Ni2+亲和层析柱和GSTrap4B亲和层析柱对重组蛋白进行纯化,并用Western Blotting和ELISA方法检测其抗原性。结果重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中可以高效表达,SDS-PAGE显示其相对分子质量与预计大小一致。ELISA和Western Blotting实验证实,重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性。本研究成功克隆和表达了禽流感病毒H9N2 HA、NA基因序列。为禽流感病毒H9N2诊断试剂和疫苗的开发等进一步的研究奠定了基础。     

禽流感病毒H5N1血凝素基因和神经氨酸酶基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的：克隆、表达和鉴定禽流感病毒H5N1血凝素基因（hemagglutinin,HA）和神经氨酸酶基因（neuramidinase,NA）序列,为制备抗体和基因工程疫苗打下基础。方法：在成功克隆禽流感病毒H5N1全长HA、NA基因并测序的基础上,将部分基因序列克隆到表达载体pET32a（＋）上,全基因序列克隆到表达载体pGEX4T-1上,构建了重组表达质粒pET32a（＋）/HA(49~1587bp)、pET32a（＋）/NA(121~1141bp)、pGEX4T-1/HA、pGEX4T-1/NA,转化大肠杆菌BL21/rosetta,IPTG诱导表达,利用Ni2＋亲和层析柱和GSTra P4B亲和层析柱对重组蛋白进行纯化,并用Western blotting和ELISA方法检测其抗原性。结果：重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中可以高效达,SDS PAGE显示其相对分子质量与预计大小一致,蛋白纯度占总蛋白的90％以上。ELISA和Western blotting实验证实,重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性。结论:成功克隆和表达了禽流感病毒H5N1 HA、NA基因序列,为禽流感病毒H5N1诊断试剂和疫苗的开发等进一步的研究奠定了基础。     

禽流感病毒H9N2血凝素基因和神经氨酸酶基因在真核酵母菌中的表达

目的:克隆、表达和鉴定禽流感病毒H9N2血凝素基因(hemagglutinin,HA)和神经氨酸酶基因(neuramidinase,NA)序列,为制备抗体和基因工程疫苗打下基础。方法:在成功克隆禽流感病毒H9N2全长HA、NA基因并测序的基础上,将部分基因序列克隆到表达载体pMETA上,构建了重组表达质粒pMETA/HA(52～1545bp),pMETA/NA(121～1254bp),电转化真核酵母菌pMAD16,甲醇诱导表达,利用Ni2+亲和层析柱对重组蛋白进行纯化,并用Western blotting和ELISA方法检测其抗原性。结果:重组蛋白在酵母菌中可以高效表达,SDS-PAGE显示蛋白表达后形成了二聚体,蛋白纯度占总蛋白的95%以上,ELISA和Western blotting实验证实,重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性。结论:成功克隆和表达了禽流感病毒H9N2HA、NA基因序列,为禽流感病毒H9N2诊断试剂和疫苗的开发等进一步的研究奠定了基础。     

Vip3a基因植物表达载体的构建及其对烟草的遗传转化

为了研究Vip3A基因在转基因抗虫植物中的应用,利用PCR技术克隆了苏云金芽孢杆菌的Vip3A基因和烟草的EF1α启动子,以pB1121质粒为基本载体,构建了分别由组成型CaMV35S启动子和花特异表达的EF1α启动子驱动Vip3A基因的植物表达载体pBIVip3A和pBIEFVip3A,并通过农杆菌介导的方法对烟草进行了遗传转化。经PCR检测,外源基因已整合到烟草基因组中。     

禽流感病毒HA基因真核表达质粒的构建与表达

血凝素蛋白（HA）基因是禽流感病毒（AIV）重要的保护性抗原基因.为了研究 HA基因疫苗,用PCR扩增H5亚型AIV HA基因,将其克隆到质粒pcDNA4/HisMax和pRc/CMV上得到真核表达质粒pC4H5和pCMVH5.采用Tfx^TM-20、Superfect转染试剂和电转染法转染HeLa细胞,转染后的HeLa细胞经蛋白质印迹和血凝试验检测HA蛋白及其活性.结果表明,Superfect转染和电转染均能正确表达HA蛋白并具有生物学活性,蛋白质印迹检测到HA和HA裂解的HA1和HA2,与AIV 的HA、HA1、HA2蛋白的分子质量一致.从血凝试验结果看,Superfect和电转染表达的HA均具有血凝活性,而经Superfect转染的pC4H5的表达量是pCMVH5的8倍,表明pC4H5是一高效的真核表达质粒.     

木糖异构酶基因xylA的克隆及其表达载体的构建

木糖异构酶基因xylA是一种正向选择标记基因,在植物基因工程中使用该标记可以获得安全的转基因植物.构建了以xylA基因为选择标记的植物表达载体.从大肠杆菌Top10中扩增出xylA基因,插入到质粒pCAMBIA2301的Xho Ⅰ位点,通过酶切和PCR检测插入片段的正确性,得到载体pCAMBIA2301-xylA,将pBI121载体上的‘35S-GUS-Nos'表达框插入到pCAMBIA2301-xylA的EcoR Ⅰ和Hind Ⅲ位点.得到中间载体pCAMBIA2301-xylA-GUS,用Sac Ⅰ和Sma Ⅰ切下克隆载体上的CBF1基因替代pCAMBIA2301-xylA-GUS中的GUS片段,用电转化法将获得的表达载体转化到农杆菌中,为将来获得安全的转基因抗寒植株奠定基础.     

拟南芥PR-1基因启动子的克隆与植物表达载体的构建

根据已报道的拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana L.）病程相关蛋白基因（PR-1）序列设计引物,通过PCR技术从拟南芥中扩增得到水杨酸诱导表达的PR-1基因启动子片段,序列分析表明,该启动子含910bp核苷酸,与已报道的序列比较,核苷酸的同源性为99．7％：将该启动子构建到植物表达载体pB1121上,获得病程相关蛋白基因（PR-1）启动子驱动的GUS报告基因的植物表达载体pBI-prlp,将其转入根癌农杆菌GV3101,通过农杆菌介导转化拟南芥,获得转基因拟南芥植株,为深入研究寄主-病原物相互作用的分子机理奠定基础。     

红豆越桔VviDREB1基因转化烟草的研究

通过构建pVB4215植物双元表达载体,采用农杆菌介导法转化烟草,研究VviDREB1在植物体中的异源表达特性.结果显示,实验获得了25个Hyg抗性株系,经过PCR、RT-PCR和GUS组织化学染色检测及Hyg基因的PCR复检等多点验证,证实表达载体边界内序列完整地整合到2个烟草株系的基因组中.转基因烟草株系在4℃低温处理20 h后,恢复生长5 h,叶片光系统PSⅡ抗寒性分析结果表明,转基因植株的叶片快速叶绿素荧光曲线OJIP各点数值高于对照植株,VviDREB1基因能够显著提高烟草的荧光产量,最大光化学效率Fv/Fm和以吸收光能为基础的性能指数PIABS较对照高,说明VviDREB1对保护植物组织细胞内光合系统PSⅡ有明显的作用,转VviDREB1基因烟草对低温有一定的忍耐能力.     

A complete analysis of HA and NA genes of influenza A viruses

Background

More and more nucleotide sequences of type A influenza virus are available in public databases. Although these sequences have been the focus of many molecular epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses, most studies only deal with a few representative sequences. In this paper, we present a complete analysis of all Haemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) gene sequences available to allow large scale analyses of the evolution and epidemiology of type A influenza.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This paper describes an analysis and complete classification of all HA and NA gene sequences available in public databases using multivariate and phylogenetic methods.

Conclusions/Significance

We analyzed 18975 HA sequences and divided them into 280 subgroups according to multivariate and phylogenetic analyses. Similarly, we divided 11362 NA sequences into 202 subgroups. Compared to previous analyses, this work is more detailed and comprehensive, especially for the bigger datasets. Therefore, it can be used to show the full and complex phylogenetic diversity and provides a framework for studying the molecular evolution and epidemiology of type A influenza virus. For more than 85% of type A influenza HA and NA sequences into GenBank, they are categorized in one unambiguous and unique group. Therefore, our results are a kind of genetic and phylogenetic annotation for influenza HA and NA sequences. In addition, sequences of swine influenza viruses come from 56 HA and 45 NA subgroups. Most of these subgroups also include viruses from other hosts indicating cross species transmission of the viruses between pigs and other hosts. Furthermore, the phylogenetic diversity of swine influenza viruses from Eurasia is greater than that of North American strains and both of them are becoming more diverse. Apart from viruses from human, pigs, birds and horses, viruses from other species show very low phylogenetic diversity. This might indicate that viruses have not become established in these species. Based on current evidence, there is no simple pattern of inter-hemisphere transmission of avian influenza viruses and it appears to happen sporadically. However, for H6 subtype avian influenza viruses, such transmissions might have happened very frequently and multiple and bidirectional transmission events might exist.     

流感病毒血凝素基因、神经氨酸酶基因在小鼠中的免疫效果观察

流感病毒血凝素基因,神经氨酸酶基因免疫BALB／c小鼠,获得特异阳性抗体反应,抗体滴度与基因免疫量呈正相关性,各实验组免疫小鼠抗同型流感病毒攻击存活率为100％,血凝素基因免疫小鼠抗异型流感病毒攻击存活率为100％,神经氨酸酶基因免疫小鼠抗异型流感病毒攻击存活率为75％,血凝素基因与神经氨酸酶基因联合免疫小鼠抗异型流感病毒攻击存活率为100％。     

鸽源H5N1亚型禽流感病毒株的HA和NA基因特征性分析

本研究自行设计合成两对特异性引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出1株鸽源H5N1亚型禽流感病毒血凝素（HA）和神经氨酸酶（NA）两个基因的cDNA片段,将它们成功克隆于pMD18-T载体上,然后进行序列测定。结果表明,HA基因全长1707bp,编码568个氨基酸, HA基因有7个糖基化位点,在裂解位点附近有连续6个碱性氨基酸（R-R-R-K-K-R）的插入,具有高致病性毒株的分子特征。受体结合位点的氨基酸分别为YWIHELY,左侧壁氨基酸为SGVSSA,右侧壁为NGQSGR;NA基因全长1350bp,编码446个氨基酸,NA基因有3个糖基化位点。     

H5N1禽流感病毒HA和NA基因重组腺病毒共表达载体的构建

利用口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)2A蛋白具有自我裂解的功能,将其作为连接肽构建携带有H5N1亚型AIVHA和NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,进而为AIV基因工程疫苗的开发以及相关诊断试剂的开发提供依据。采用融合PCR的方法扩增出含有H5N1 AIV HA-2A-NA的基因,定向插入pAdtrack-CMV腺病毒穿梭质粒中,含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy-1在基因工程菌BJ5183中进行同源重组,获得腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA,将pAdeasyd-H5经PacI线性化后转染HEK293细胞株包装出含有HA-2A-NA基因的腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA。结果表明,构建的含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA和含有目的基因的腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA经PCR、双酶切及核苷酸测序测定无误。线性化后的pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA转染HEK293细胞包装成功获得腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA载体,经绿色荧光蛋白和RT-PCR分析证实,目的基因在该细胞中成功表达。本试验构建的含有AIV H5N1亚型HA-2A-NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,将为进一步研究开发基因工程疫苗提供病毒模型。     

Predicting the Emergence of H3N2 Influenza Viruses Reveals Contrasted Modes of Evolution of HA and NA Antigens

Vaccine design for rapidly changing viruses is based on empirical surveillance of strains circulating in a given season to assess those that will most likely spread during the next season. The choice of which strains to include in the vaccine is critical, as an erroneous decision can lead to a nonimmunized human population that will then be at risk in the face of an epidemic or, worse, a pandemic. Here, we present the first steps toward a very general phylogenetic approach to predict the emergence of novel viruses. Our genomic model builds upon natural features of viral evolution such as selection and recombination / reassortment, and incorporates episodic bursts of evolution and or of recombination. As a proof-of-concept, we assess the performance of this model in a retrospective study, focusing: (i) on the emergence of an unexpected H3N2 influenza strain in 2007, and (ii) on a longitudinal design. Based on the analysis of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes, our results show a lack of predictive power in both experimental designs, but shed light on the mode of evolution of these two antigens: (i) supporting the lack of significance of recombination in the evolution of this influenza virus, and (ii) showing that HA evolves episodically while NA changes gradually.     

共表达禽流感病毒HA和NA基因重组禽痘病毒的遗传稳定性

将表达禽流感病毒H5HA及N1NA基因的重组禽痘病毒rFPV HA NA连续传代至 2 5代 ,取第 5、15及 2 5代重组病毒作为受检代次 ,进行外源基因的PCR扩增与测序 ,同时比较这 3个代次重组禽痘病毒的免疫效力。结果对各代次重组病毒DNA的模板进行PCR扩增 ,均能够获得HA和NA两个目的片段 ;经测序证明两个外源基因在细胞传代过程中没有发生氨基酸水平的改变。动物试验结果表明 ,该重组病毒的毒力在细胞传代过程中没有发生变化 ,接种试验鸡后在鸡体内能够检测到外源基因的存在 ,各免疫组在免疫 2周后的抗体效价平均为 6 5log2 ,完全抵抗了高致病力禽流感病毒的攻击。以上结果表明此重组病毒具有较好的遗传稳定性 ,经过 2 5代的传代后 ,所插入的外源基因及其表达产物的免疫原性未见变化 ,重组病毒的免疫效力相当稳定。     

共表达H5亚型禽流感病毒HA和NA基因的重组鸡痘病毒及其免疫效力

为了构建更为安全有效地抵抗高致病性H5亚型禽流感病毒的基因工程疫苗,将H5亚型禽流感病毒分离株的血凝素(HA)基因和神经氨酸酶(NA)基因定向插入鸡痘病毒转移载体p11S中,H5A和NA基因的启动子分别为PS和PE/L,获得用不同的启动子启动不同的外源基因且两基因盒方向为背向串联的重组转移载体p11SH5ANA。将p11SH5ANA转染至已感染鸡痘病毒282E4疫苗株(wt-FPV)的鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)中。p11SH5ANA与wt-FPV基因组DNA之间的同源重组产生了重组鸡痘病毒rFPV-11SH5ANA。通过在含X-Gal的营养琼脂上连续挑选蓝色病毒蚀斑,获得纯化的重组病毒。经传代证实该重组病毒具有良好的遗传稳定性。用105PFU的rFPV-11SH5NA免疫无特定病原体(SPF)鸡,能激发机体产生有效的血凝抑制(HI)抗体。初步的动物试验表明,该重组病毒能使经肌肉注射攻毒的SPF鸡抵抗H5亚型AIV的致死性攻击,保护率为100%,显示出一定的应用前景。     

Cross-clade protective immune responses to influenza viruses with H5N1 HA and NA elicited by an influenza virus-like particle

Background

Vaccination is a cost-effective counter-measure to the threat of seasonal or pandemic outbreaks of influenza. To address the need for improved influenza vaccines and alternatives to egg-based manufacturing, we have engineered an influenza virus-like particle (VLP) as a new generation of non-egg or non-mammalian cell culture-based candidate vaccine.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We generated from a baculovirus expression system using insect cells, a non-infectious recombinant VLP vaccine from both influenza A H5N1 clade 1 and clade 2 isolates with pandemic potential. VLPs were administered to mice in either a one-dose or two-dose regimen and the immune responses were compared to those induced by recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA). Both humoral and cellular responses were analyzed. Mice vaccinated with VLPs were protected against challenge with lethal reassortant viruses expressing the H5N1 HA and NA, regardless if the H5N1 clade was homologous or heterologous to the vaccine. However, rHA-vaccinated mice showed considerable weight loss and death following challenge with the heterovariant clade virus. Protection against death induced by VLPs was independent of the pre-challenge HAI titer or cell-mediated responses to HA or M1 since vaccinated mice, with low to undetectable cross-clade HAI antibodies or cellular responses to influenza antigens, were still protected from a lethal viral challenge. However, an apparent association rate of antibody binding to HA correlated with protection and was enhanced using VLPs, particularly when delivered intranasally, compared to rHA vaccines.

Conclusion/Significance

This is the first report describing the use of an H5N1 VLP vaccine created from a clade 2 isolate. The results show that a non-replicating virus-like particle is effective at eliciting a broadened, cross-clade protective immune response to proteins from emerging H5N1 influenza isolates giving rise to a potential pandemic influenza vaccine candidate for humans that can be stockpiled for use in the event of an outbreak of H5N1 influenza.     

Enhancement of the Influenza A Hemagglutinin (HA)-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion and Virus Entry by the Viral Neuraminidase (NA)

Background

The major role of the neuraminidase (NA) protein of influenza A virus is related to its sialidase activity, which disrupts the interaction between the envelope hemagglutin (HA) protein and the sialic acid receptors expressed at the surface of infected cells. This enzymatic activity is known to promote the release and spread of progeny viral particles following their production by infected cells, but a potential role of NA in earlier steps of the viral life cycle has never been clearly demonstrated. In this study we have examined the impact of NA expression on influenza HA-mediated viral membrane fusion and virion infectivity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The role of NA in the early stages of influenza virus replication was examined using a cell-cell fusion assay that mimics HA-mediated membrane fusion, and a virion infectivity assay using HIV-based pseudoparticles expressing influenza HA and/or NA proteins. In the cell-cell fusion assay, which bypasses the endocytocytosis step that is characteristic of influenza virus entry, we found that in proper HA maturation conditions, NA clearly enhanced fusion in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, expression of NA at the surface of pseudoparticles significantly enhanced virion infectivity. Further experiments using exogeneous soluble NA revealed that the most likely mechanism for enhancement of fusion and infectivity by NA was related to desialylation of virion-expressed HA.

Conclusion/Significance

The NA protein of influenza A virus is not only required for virion release and spread but also plays a critical role in virion infectivity and HA-mediated membrane fusion.     

Contributions of the Avian Influenza Virus HA,NA, and M2 Surface Proteins to the Induction of Neutralizing Antibodies and Protective Immunity

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 causes severe disease and mortality in poultry. Increased transmission of H5N1 HPAIV from birds to humans is a serious threat to public health. We evaluated the individual contributions of each of the three HPAIV surface proteins, namely, the hemagglutinin (HA), the neuraminidase (NA), and the M2 proteins, to the induction of HPAIV-neutralizing serum antibodies and protective immunity in chickens. Using reverse genetics, three recombinant Newcastle disease viruses (rNDVs) were engineered, each expressing the HA, NA, or M2 protein of H5N1 HPAIV. Chickens were immunized with NDVs expressing a single antigen (HA, NA, and M2), two antigens (HA+NA, HA+M2, and NA+M2), or three antigens (HA+NA+M2). Immunization with HA or NA induced high titers of HPAIV-neutralizing serum antibodies, with the response to HA being greater, thus identifying HA and NA as independent neutralization antigens. M2 did not induce a detectable neutralizing serum antibody response, and inclusion of M2 with HA or NA reduced the magnitude of the response. Immunization with HA alone or in combination with NA induced complete protection against HPAIV challenge. Immunization with NA alone or in combination with M2 did not prevent death following challenge, but extended the time period before death. Immunization with M2 alone had no effect on morbidity or mortality. Thus, there was no indication that M2 is immunogenic or protective. Furthermore, inclusion of NA in addition to HA in a vaccine preparation for chickens may not enhance the high level of protection provided by HA.Avian influenza (AI) is an economically important disease of poultry worldwide. Avian influenza virus (AIV) belongs to the genus Influenzavirus A under the family Orthomyxoviridae. The genome of AIV consists of eight segments of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA that codes for 11 proteins (PB2, PB1, PB1-F2, PA, HA, NP, NA, M1, M2, NS1, and NS2/NEP). The genome is surrounded by the viral envelope that has two glycoprotein spikes on its outer surface, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The HA spikes have receptor binding and fusion functions, and NA spikes have receptor-destroying activity. The envelope also contains a third integral membrane protein, M2, which is exposed on the outer surface and functions as an ion channel, essential for uncoating. The AIV surface glycoproteins are antigenically variable and are serologically divided into 16 HA (H1 to H16) and 9 NA (N1 to N9) subtypes, whereas the nonglycosylated surface protein M2 is highly conserved (9, 43). On the basis of severity of disease in poultry, AIV strains are also classified into low-pathogenic (LP) and highly pathogenic (HP) categories. Historically, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtypes H5 and H7 have caused severe disease and mortality in poultry. Recent HPAIV subtype H5N1 infections have resulted in the culling or death of more than 500 million poultry in more than 62 countries (27). Since 1997, HPAIV strains of subtype H5N1 have been found to cause disease in humans. To date, this virus has caused 436 confirmed human infections. Of these infections, 262 (60%) were fatal. Hence, HPAIV has become a major threat to both animals and humans (45). The World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) recommends the control of HPAIV at its poultry source to decrease the viral load in susceptible avian species, thereby decreasing the risk of transmission to humans (31). The traditional method of control of HPAI has been stamping out infected flocks, which is still used in many countries, including the United States. But, due to economic reasons, culling of infected flocks is no longer considered a practical method for the control of AI in either developed or developing countries. Vaccination has been recommended by the OIE to control AI (31). Several vaccination strategies, including inactivated and live attenuated vaccines, have been evaluated for HPAIV (28). Inactivated vaccines are not commonly used because of the high cost and the difficulty in “differentiating infected from vaccinated animals” (DIVA). Live attenuated vaccines are not used because of the concern that the vaccine viruses may, through either mutation or genetic reassortment with circulating strains, become virulent (1). To overcome these difficulties, recombinant DNA technology was used to generate vectored, subunit, or DNA vaccines. Although several of these vaccines have been shown experimentally to protect against AIV, Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-vectored vaccines have shown the most promising results and also have the advantage of being bivalent vaccines against both NDV and AIV (11, 25, 32, 42). Furthermore, NDV-vectored vaccines have also been evaluated in primates with promising results (6). Newcastle disease (ND) is an economically important disease in poultry worldwide. The causative agent (NDV) is a nonsegmented, negative-strand RNA virus belonging to the genus Avulavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. NDV strains vary greatly in virulence. Virulent NDV strains cause a severe respiratory and neurologic disease in poultry worldwide. Naturally occurring avirulent NDV strains are routinely used to control ND in many parts of world (30).We recently evaluated recombinant NDV (rNDV) expressing the HA protein of an H5N1 HPAIV vaccine (rNDV-HA) in chickens (25). Chickens immunized with rNDV-HA produced NDV- and HPAIV H5-specific antibodies and were protected against clinical disease after challenge with virulent NDV or HPAIV. Furthermore, shedding of the challenge virus was not observed, indicating complete protection. Our results demonstrated that rNDV-HA is a suitable bivalent vaccine against NDV and AIV (25). To date, all NDV-vectored vaccine studies in chickens have used HA genes derived from various HPAIV strains (11, 25, 32, 42). However, in addition to the HA protein, the envelope of AIV contains two other proteins (NA and M2) on its outer surface. Although antibodies to NA are thought not to play any role in viral attachment and penetration of the host cell, they prevent the release of virus from infected cells (20) and increase overall resistance to AIV infection in humans (37). The NA gene is thought to evolve at a lower rate than the HA gene, indicating that NA-specific antibodies may increase the breadth of protection of the HA-specific antibodies (19). The other surface protein, M2, functions as an ion channel protein and also as a target for anti-HPAIV drugs. The role of M2 protein in the induction of HPAIV-neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity is not well understood. Antibodies induced by the M2e peptide corresponding to the N-terminal 24-amino-acid ectodomain (the portion present on the virus surface) displayed broad protection against influenza A viruses of both homologous (H1N1) and heterologous (H3N1) strains in vitro and in vivo (7). However, the role of entire length of the M2 protein of AIV in induction of neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in chickens has not been directly evaluated. The M2 protein is conserved among all influenza A viruses and is therefore considered an attractive target for a “universal” vaccine (8). Antibodies to HA protein alone can protect against lethal AIV challenges; the inclusion of other surface proteins in the vaccine regimen may improve the protective efficacy.In the present study, we examined the relative contribution of each of the three HPAIV surface proteins (HA, NA, and M2) to induction of neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity in chickens. Recombinant NDV vectors were constructed that individually expressed each of the three HPAIV surface proteins. They were used to immunize chickens either individually or in different possible combinations. Evaluation of the relative neutralization titers of serum antibody, shedding of challenge virus, and protection against lethal HPAIV challenge conferred by each of the NDV-vectored HPAIV surface proteins showed that HA glycoprotein was the major contributor to induction of neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity, followed by NA protein, which conferred partial protection. The M2 protein neither induced a detectable level of serum-neutralizing antibodies nor protected chickens from the HPAIV lethal challenge.