Influenza A virus nucleoprotein derived from Escherichia coli or recombinant vaccinia (Tiantan) virus elicits robust cross-protection in mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Immunity to conserved viral antigens is an attractive approach to develop a universal vaccine against epidemic and pandemic influenza. A nucleoprotein (NP)-based vaccine has been explored and preliminary studies have shown promise. However, no study has explored the immunity and cross-protective efficacy of recombinant NP derived from Escherichia coli compared with recombinant vaccinia virus (Tiantan).

METHODS:

Recombinant NP protein (rNP) from influenza virus A/Jingke/30/95(H3N2) was obtained from E. coli and recombinant vaccinia virus (Tiantan) RVJ1175NP. Purified rNP without adjuvant and RVJ1175NP were used to immunize BALB/c mice intramuscularly. Humoral immune responses were detected by ELISA, while cell-mediated immune responses were measured by ex vivo IFN-γ ELISPOT and in vivo cytotoxicity assays. The cross-protective efficacy was assessed by a challenge with a heterosubtype of influenza virus A/PR/8/34(H1N1).

RESULTS:

Our results demonstrate that a high dose (90 μg) of rNP induced NP-specific antibodies and T cell responses that were comparable with those of RVJ1175NP in mice. Importantly, the survival ratio (36, 73, and 78%) of the vaccinated mice after the influenza virus A/PR/8/34(H1N1) challenge was rNP vaccine dose-dependent (10, 30, and 90 μg, respectively), and no significant differences were observed between the rNP- and RVJ1175NP-immunized (91%) mice.

CONCLUSIONS:

Influenza A virus NP derived from E. coli or recombinant vaccinia (Tiantan) virus elicited cross-protection against influenza virus in mice, and the immune response and protective efficacy of rNP were comparable to RVJ1175NP. These data provide a basis for the use of prokaryotically expressed NP as a candidate universal influenza vaccine.

• Authors: Baoying Huang, Wenling Wang, Renqing Li, Xiuping Wang, Tao Jiang, Xiangrong Qi, Yingying Gao, Wenjie Tan, Li Ruan
• Journal: Virology journal (Virol J) Vol. 9 Pg. 322 (Dec 29 2012) ISSN: 1743-422X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23272943 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Influenza Vaccines
• NP protein, Influenza A virus
• Nucleocapsid Proteins
• RNA-Binding Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• Viral Core Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral (immunology)
• Cross Protection
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Escherichia coli (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunization Schedule
• Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Influenza Vaccines (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Nucleocapsid Proteins
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (immunology, prevention & control)
• Plasmids (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA-Binding Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Survival Analysis
• Transformation, Genetic
• Vaccination
• Vaccines, Synthetic (immunology)
• Vaccinia virus (genetics, metabolism)
• Viral Core Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)