Immunization with 1976 swine H1N1- or 2009 pandemic H1N1-inactivated vaccines protects mice from a lethal 1918 influenza infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Zoonotic infections with H1N1 influenza viruses that evolved initially from the 1918 virus (1918) and adapted to swine threatened a pandemic in 1976 (1976 swH1N1) and a novel reassortant H1N1 virus caused a pandemic in 2009-2010 (2009 pH1N1). Epidemiological and laboratory animal studies show that protection from severe 2009 pH1N1 infection is conferred by vaccination or prior infection with 1976 swH1N1 or 1918.

OBJECTIVES:

Our aim was to demonstrate cross-protection by immunization with 2009 pH1N1 or 1976 swH1N1 vaccines following a lethal challenge with 1918. Further, the mechanisms of cross-protective antibody responses were evaluated.

METHODS:

Mice were immunized with 1976 swH1N1, 2009 pH1N1, 2009 seasonal trivalent, or 1918 vaccines and challenged with 1918. Cross-reactive antibody responses were assessed and protection monitored by survival, weight loss, and pathology in mice.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Vaccination with the 1976 swH1N1 or 2009 pH1N1 vaccines protected mice from a lethal challenge with 1918, and these mice lost no weight and had significantly reduced viral load and pathology in the lungs. Protection was likely due to cross-reactive antibodies detected by microneutralization assay. Our data suggest that the general population may be protected from a future 1918-like pandemic because of prior infection or immunization with 1976 swH1N1 or 2009 pH1N1. Also, influenza protection studies generally focus on cross-reactive hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies; while hemagglutinin is the primary surface antigen, this fails to account for other influenza viral antigens. Neutralizing antibody may be a better correlate of human protection against pathogenic influenza strains and should be considered for vaccine efficacy.

• Authors: Judith D Easterbrook, John C Kash, Zong-Mei Sheng, Li Qi, Jin Gao, Edwin D Kilbourne, Maryna C Eichelberger, Jeffery K Taubenberger
• Journal: Influenza and other respiratory viruses (Influenza Other Respir Viruses) Vol. 5 Issue 3 Pg. 198-205 (May 2011) ISSN: 1750-2659 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21477139 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)
• Copyright: © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Chemical References

• Influenza Vaccines
• Vaccines, Inactivated

Topics

• Animals
• China (epidemiology)
• Cross Protection
• Female
• Humans
• Immunization
• Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Influenza Vaccines (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Influenza, Human (epidemiology, immunology, prevention & control, virology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (epidemiology, veterinary, virology)
• Pandemics
• Swine
• Swine Diseases (epidemiology, virology)
• Vaccines, Inactivated (administration & dosage, immunology)