Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Vaccination

In order to evaluate the response to vector-expressed M1 and HA genes of influenza virus in mice, we prepared recombinant plasmid pStar-M1/HA and recombinant adenovirus Ad-M1/HA containing both the full-length matrix protein 1(M1) and hemagglutinin (HA) genes of human H5N1 influenza virus strain A/Anhui/1/2005. We then combined the DNA vaccine and adenoviral vaccine in immunization of BALB/c mice with a prime-boost regime. We immunized the mice with DNA vaccine at day 0 and 28 and with recombinant adenoviral vaccines at day 14 and 42. We took blood samples before each injection and 14 days after the final injection for detection of humoral immune responses. At day 56, we sacrificed the mice and collected splenocytes for detection of cellular immune responses. ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay showed that specific IgG Abs against H5N1 influenza virus was induced in serum of the immunized mice. ELISPOT results confirmed that the specific cellular immune responses were successfully induced against the M1 and HA proteins of H5N1 influenza virus. This study provides new strategy for development of novel influenza vaccines.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunization ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

In our previous study, a panel of 52 broadly cross-reactive H5-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated and characterized. The 13D4, one of these MAbs, has been demonstrated to protect mice against lethal challenge by 4 strains of H5N1 avian influenza virus representing the currently prevailing genetic populations, clades 1, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Here, we further cloned the gene of the 13D4 MAb and constructed a single-chain variable fragment. Then, the 13D4 single-chain antibody (scFv) was expressed in secretory maner in Pichia pastoris. The supernatant of the culture was concentrated and subjected to ammonium sulfate precipitation. The purity of the 13D4 scFv was around 90% in SDS-PAGE following ion-exchange chromatography. We further investigated its binding property using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and blocking ELISA. The results indicated that the 13D4 scFv shared the same binding sites and comparable HI titer with the prototype murine 13D4 Mab. In conclusion, an anti-H5 single-chain wide-spectrum neutralizing antibody is prepared successfully in yeast system.
Antibodies, Viral ; genetics ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Pichia ; genetics ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtypes caused enormous economical loss to poultry farms in China and Southeastern Asian countries. The vaccination program is a reliable strategy in controlling the prevalence of these disastrous diseases. The six internal genes of the high-yield influenza virus A/Goose/Dalian/3/01 (H9N2), the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of A/Goose/HLJ/QFY/04 (H5N1) strain, and the neuraminidase gene from A/Duck/Germany/1215/73 (H2N3) reference strain were amplified by RT-PCR technique. The HA gene was modified by the deletion of four basic amino acids of the connecting peptide between HA1 and HA2. Eight gene expressing plasmids were constructed, and the recombinant virus rH5N3 was generated by cells transfection. The infection of chicken embryos and the challenge tests involving chickens demonstrated that the recombinant H5N3 (rH5N3) influenza virus is avirulent. The allantoic fluids of rH5N3-infected eggs contain high-titer influenza viruses with hemagglutination unit of 1:2048, which are eight times those of the parental H5N1 virus. The rH5N3 oil-emulsified vaccine could induce hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies in chickens in 2 weeks post-vaccination, and maximum geometric mean HI-titer were observed 4 approximately 5 weeks post-vaccination and were kept under observation for 18 weeks. The rH5N3-vaccinated chickens were fully protected against morbidity and mortality of the lethal challenge of the H5N1 HPAI viruses, A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96 and A/Goose/HLJ/QFY/04, which had 8 years expansion and differences among multiple amino acids in HA protein. The N3 neuraminidase protein marker makes it possible to distinguish between H5N1 infected- and H5N3 vaccinated animals.
Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Influenza in Birds ; prevention & control ; Plasmids ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

A monoclonal antibody (8H5), which showed strong neutralization activity against 33 strains of H5N1 viruses isolated from hosts at various regions from 2002 to 2006, was characterized in our lab recently. This result indicated the presence of highly conserved neutralizing site on hemagglutinin (HA) of various H5N1 subtypes. In the present study, the peptide phage display technique was applied to generate mimotope of the conserved neutralizing epitope recognized by 8H5 mAb. Five peptides displayed on phage were identified to specifically bind to 8H5 mAb. One of the five peptides, 123, was further displayed on the virus-like particle assembled from aa 1-149 fragment of HBcAg. The chimeric particle HBc-T123 conserved the specific binding to 8H5 mAb, and competed with H5N1 viruses for 8H5 mAb. The antiserum induced by HBc-T123 intensively stained on SF21 cells infected by recombinant baculovirus containing HA gene of YU22 virus, indicating the production of cross-reactive antibody to H5N1 HA.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Epitopes ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Library

OBJECTIVETo prepare the 4 candidate vaccine strains of H5N1 avian influenza virus isolated in China.

METHODSRecombinant viruses were rescued using reverse genetics. Neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA) segments of the A/Xinjiang/1/2006, A/Guangxi/1/2009, A/Hubei/1/2010, and A/Guangdong/1/2011 viruses were amplified by RT-PCR. Multibasic amino acid cleavage site of HA was removed and ligated into the pCIpolI vector for virus rescue. The recombinant viruses were evaluated by trypsin dependent assays. Their embryonate survival and antigenicity were compared with those of the respective wild-type viruses.

RESULTSThe 4 recombinant viruses showed similar antigenicity compared with wild-type viruses, chicken embryo survival and trypsin-dependent characteristics.

CONCLUSIONThe 4 recombinant viruses rescued using reverse genetics meet the criteria for classification of low pathogenic avian influenza strains, thus supporting the use of them for the development of seeds and production of pre-pandemic vaccines.

Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; China ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Influenza in Birds ; prevention & control ; virology ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

Improving expression of antigen is critical to the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. To achieve this goal, we modified the NDV F48E9 strain HN gene by optimizing the condon usage and inserting the secretary leader sequence [A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96 (H5N1) HA gene, Accession No. AF144305]. The HN gene modified and knocked the signal peptide off were named SoptiHN and optiHN. The three sequence: SoptiHN, optiHN and the NDV F48E9 strain HN gene were inserted into the vector pVAX1 and vector pVAX1-CpG including CpG-ODN sequence respectively. Then we got six recombinant plasmids: pV-SoptiHN, pVC-SoptiHN, pV-optiHN, pVC-optiHN, pV-HN and pVC-HN. By optimizing condon usage in transiently transfected 293T cells, expression levels of HN gene were higher from the codon-optimized gene than the counterpart. Moreover, both optimization of condon usage and addition of signal peptide could improve expression of HN gene in vitro.
Animals ; Chickens ; Codon ; HN Protein ; genetics ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; Newcastle Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Newcastle disease virus ; classification ; genetics ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology

This study aimed to develop an effective experimental vaccine against highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus and to optimize their immunization programs. As reported previously, various DNA-based or recombinant vaccinia viral(Tiantan)-based H5N1 vaccine candidates, which containing a single cistronic construct (HAop, or NAop) or a bicistronic construct (HAop/M2 or NAop/M1) of H5N1 influenza virus (Anhui strain) were constructed and characterized in our lab. In this study, we further analysed the immunogenicity in mice of these vaccine candidates by various protocols (single or combined immunization). Our results showed that: comparing with immunization with DNA-based or rTTV-based H5N1 vaccine only, combined DNA-based with rTTV-based H5N1 vaccine immunization via prime-boost strategy enhanced immune response significantly against multi-H5N1 antigens detected by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, NA- or M1- or M2-specific antibody detection, and micro-neutralizing antibody test and IFN-gamma ELISpot assay. Priming with DNA-based vaccine induced higher level of humoral response against HA or NA antigen than priming with rTTV-based vaccine; In contract, M1 and M2-specific antibody levels were higher among that of priming with rTTV -based vaccine. These findings provide a basis for further development of novel H5N1 vaccines and for the optimization of the immunization programs of combined multi-antigens vaccine candidates.
Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Immunization ; methods ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccination ; methods ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccinia ; genetics ; immunology

The hemagglutinin (HA) gene from H5N1 avian influenza virus and the chicken interleukin 2 (chiIL-2) gene were inserted into a expressing vector p12LS to construct a recombinant transferring vector p12LSH5AIL2, in which HA gene under the control of the promoter Ps was in inverse tandem connection with the chiIL-2 gene under the control of the promoter PE/L. The p12LSH5AIL2 was then used to transfect the chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) pre-infected with a wild-type fowlpox virus 282E4 strain, to generate a recombinant fowlpox virus coexpressing the inserted HA and chiIL2 genes (rFPV-H5AIL2). The rFPV-H5AIL2 was obtained and purified by blue plaque screening on the CEF. The in vitro expression of HA gene by rFPV-H5AIL2 was detected in the recombinant fowlpox virus-infected CEFs with an indirect immunofluorescence assay, and the expression of the chiIL2 gene by rFPV-H5AIL2 was confirmed by detection of the chiIL2 mRNA by RT-PCR and by detection of chiIL2 by the indirect immunofluorescence assay. Experiments on SPF and commercial chickens demonstrated that the titer for HI antibodies induced by the rFPV-H5AIL2 was significantly higher than that by the rFPV-HA. The group immunized with the rFPV-H5AIL2 exhibited the similar ratios of protective efficacy and virus shedding as the group immunized with the rFPV-HA in SPF chicken. However, in commercial chicken, the group immunized with the rFPV-H5AIL2 generated significantly higher protection against H5N1 avian influenza virus challenge and lower virus shedding than the group immunized with the rFPV-HA. This study paved the way for further development of a new AIV recombinant vaccine.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Fowlpox virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemagglutinins ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza in Birds ; immunology ; virology ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; immunology ; Random Allocation

The aim of this study is to develop the recombinant adenovirus vaccine (rAdV) candidates containing neuraminidase (NA) gene of H5N1 influenza virus and test in BALB/c mice the effect of cell-mediated immunity. In this study, two kind of NA gene (WtNA gene, the wild type; Mod. NA gene, the codon-modified type) derived from H5N1 influenza virus (A/Anhui/1/2005) were cloned and inserted respectively into plasmid of adenovirus vector, then the rAdV vaccines candidates (rAdV-WtNA and rAdV-Mod. NA) were developed and purified, followed by immunization intramuscularly (10(9) TCID50 per dose, double injection at 0 and 4th week) in BALB/c mice, the effect of cell-mediated immunity were analysed at 5th week. Results indicated that: (i) NA protein expression was detected in two rAdV vaccines candidates by Western blotting; (ii) the rAdV-Mod. NA vaccine could elicit more robust NA specific cell-mediated immunity in mice than that of rAdV-WtNA vaccine (P = 0. 016) by IFN-gamma ELIspot assay. These findings suggested rAdV-Mod. NA vaccine was a potential vaccine candidate against H5N1 influenza and worthy of further investigation.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; immunology ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections ; immunology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Random Allocation ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; immunology