AI Article Synopsis

  • The development of a universal influenza vaccine is crucial due to the virus's high mutation rate, and the M2e protein is a promising target for this purpose.
  • Two recombinant live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) candidates were created, both showing increased immune response compared to a control strain in ferrets, with the LAIV/HA+4M2e proving to be the most effective.
  • The LAIV/HA+4M2e vaccine not only provided significant protection against various strains but also demonstrated a favorable safety profile, making it a strong candidate for phase I clinical trials.

Article Abstract

The development of an influenza vaccine with broad protection and durability remains an attractive idea due to the high mutation rate of the influenza virus. An extracellular domain of Matrix 2 protein (M2e) is among the most attractive target for the universal influenza vaccine owing to its high conservancy rate. Here, we generated two recombinant live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) candidates encoding four M2e epitopes representing consensus sequences of human, avian and swine influenza viruses, and studied them in a preclinical ferret model. Both LAIV+4M2e viruses induced higher levels of M2e-specific antibodies compared to the control LAIV strain, with the LAIV/HA+4M2e candidate being significantly more immunogenic than the LAIV/NS+4M2e counterpart. A high-dose heterosubtypic influenza virus challenge revealed the highest degree of protection after immunization with LAIV/HA+4M2e strain, followed by the NS-modified LAIV and the classical LAIV virus. Furthermore, only the immune sera from the LAIV/HA+4M2e-immunized ferrets protected mice from a panel of lethal influenza viruses encoding M genes of various origins. These data suggest that the improved cross-protection of the LAIV/HA+4M2e universal influenza vaccine candidate was mediated by the M2e-targeted antibodies. Taking into account the safety profile and improved cross-protective potential, the LAIV/HA+4M2e vaccine warrants its further evaluation in a phase I clinical trial.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8310119PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v13071280DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

influenza vaccine
20
influenza
9
m2e epitopes
8
virus challenge
8
influenza virus
8
universal influenza
8
influenza viruses
8
vaccine
6
universal live-attenuated
4
live-attenuated influenza
4

Similar Publications

Adversity in childhood is robustly associated with persistent pain in adulthood. Neuro-immune interactions are a candidate mechanistic link between childhood adversity and persistent pain, given that both childhood adversity and persistent pain are associated with neural and immune upregulation in adulthood. As such, we aimed to clarify whether immune reactivity is associated with provoked differences in nociceptive processing in humans.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Changes in seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Repeated random telephone surveys.

Hum Vaccin Immunother

December 2025

Centre for Health Behavious Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

People's risk of contracting seasonal influenza increased after COVID-19 control measures were relaxed. This study investigated the changes in seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) uptake and its determinants among older adults during and after the COVID-19 period. Two rounds of random telephone surveys were conducted among 440 and 373 community-living individuals aged ≥65 y, the first between November 2021 and January 2022 and the second between October 2023 and January 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and behavioral factors related to increased influenza vaccination uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, particularly among adults not eligible for free vaccination.

Methods: Analyzing data from 78,815 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2021), we assessed trends in influenza vaccination coverage. Various sociodemographic factors, behavioral aspects, and psychological stress levels were assessed using multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the difference in vaccination response during pre-/post-COVID-19 periods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Next-generation vaccines for influenza B virus: advancements and challenges.

Arch Virol

January 2025

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institutional Center for Shared Technologies and Facilities, Pathogen Discovery and Big Data Platform, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yueyang Road 320, Shanghai, 200031, China.

To battle seasonal outbreaks of influenza B virus infection, which continue to pose a major threat to world health, new and improved vaccines are urgently needed. In this article, we discuss the current state of next-generation influenza B vaccine development, including both advancements and challenges. This review covers the shortcomings of existing influenza vaccines and stresses the need for more-effective and broadly protective vaccines and more-easily scalable manufacturing processes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This research uses numerical simulations and mathematical theories to simulate and analyze the spread of the influenza virus. The existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of the solution are established. We investigate the fundamental reproduction number guaranteeing the asymptotic stability of equilibrium points that are endemic and disease-free.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!