流感病毒NP表位序列增强H7N9 HA DNA疫苗免疫效果研究

为增强H7N9流感病毒HA DNA疫苗的免疫效果,本文构建了含有流感病毒NP的5个重复优势T表位或B表位(包括B_1线性表位和B_2构象表位)的表达质粒(简称NPT和NPB),以小鼠为动物模型,将NPT和NPB分别与H7N9流感病毒HA DNA混合免疫BALB/c小鼠1次,21 d后用致死剂量(20 LD_(50))的H7N9流感病毒攻击小鼠。通过检测免疫后小鼠血清特异性抗体滴度和攻毒后的免疫保护性指标-存活率、肺部残余病毒滴度及体重丢失率,评价表位质粒与HA DNA疫苗混合免疫对小鼠的保护效果。试验结果表明:用致死性H7N9流感病毒攻击小鼠后,HA DNA组小鼠全部死亡,HA+NPT免疫组小鼠存活率达到100%,HA+NPB1和HA+NPB2免疫组,小鼠存活率分别为30%和75%;混合免疫HA+NPT后小鼠抗体滴度升高明显,攻毒后小鼠体重丢失明显降低。综上表明,含有5个NP优势T表位或B表位的表达质粒能增强H7N9流感病毒HA DNA疫苗的免疫效果,混合免疫一次可以使小鼠得到较好的保护。HA DNA和表位疫苗的混合免疫,节约了疫苗用量,降低了免疫成本,为流感病毒核酸疫苗的临床开发提供了一定的试验基础。     

季节性和大流行性H1N1流感血凝素DNA疫苗电穿孔免疫小鼠及攻毒保护实验

在流感病毒疫苗中,DNA疫苗有望成为常规疫苗的替代品.研究构建了两个分别编码A/New Caledonia/20/99（H1N1）和A/California/04/2009（H1N1）流感病毒株血凝素抗原的DNA疫苗pV1A5和pVEH1,目的抗原经验证能够正确表达后,利用小鼠模型通过电穿孔方法肌肉注射免疫进行疫苗免疫效力评价.采用血凝抑制实验和酶联免疫吸附实验对免疫小鼠的血清进行血凝素特异性抗体检测,对血凝素特异性的T淋巴细胞经IFN-γ酶联免疫斑点实验进行检测.然后选择小鼠适应株A/NewCaledonia/20/99（H1N1）100个半数致死剂量对候选疫苗免疫的小鼠攻毒并监测生存率和体重变化率,以此评价疫苗保护效力.两疫苗组免疫小鼠T淋巴细胞和体液免疫水平显著高于pVAX1空载体对照组（P〈0.05）.此外,pV1A5组能够100%保护免疫小鼠抵抗100致死剂量同源病毒小鼠适应株的攻毒,而同种病毒下pVEH1组只有40%的保护率.结果表明,本实验构建的季节性流感DNA疫苗能够对同源病毒攻毒提供完全保护,而大流行流感株DNA疫苗只能部分抵抗季节性流感病毒.     

人-禽双价流感新型DNA疫苗构建及免疫保护实验研究

流感病毒是威胁人类和动物健康的重要病原. 研究表明, 流感大流行株的形成与人流感和禽流感毒株基因重配密切相关. 因此在目前流感流行趋势下, 在人流感和禽流感疫苗开发中考虑对人流感和禽流感流行亚型进行共预防具有重要意义. 本研究针对人-禽多价流感疫苗进行了尝试, 构建了共表达H5亚型HA和H3亚型主要抗原区HA1的DNA疫苗pVAX1-H5/H3, 并进行了小鼠免疫攻毒研究. 结果表明, 攻毒前pVAX1-H5/H3有效诱导小鼠产生了针对 H5HA和H3HA1的体液抗体和细胞免疫应答. 当采用H5亚型和H3亚型流感病毒攻击时, pVAX1-H5/H3实验组小鼠对病毒攻击产生了抵抗作用, 显示了更快的体重回复及肺部病毒清除速度. 在H3亚型流感保护方面, pVAX1-H5/H3作用显著优于单表达H3HA1的pVAX1-H3. 结果证实, 共表达双亚型HA策略可对相关流感病毒攻击产生保护, 不同HA间未发现免疫干扰现象, 同时存在潜在的增益效果. 本研究为人-禽多价流感疫苗的研发奠定了基础.     

抗禽流感病毒多表位DNA疫苗的构建及其免疫效力研究

多表位DNA疫苗是建立在常规DNA疫苗基础上的一种新型疫苗。它是用表位作免疫原,这样就比较容易在一个表达载体上克隆病原体的多个抗原基因中具有免疫活性的部分。本试验以H5N1亚型禽流感病毒的HA和NP基因及其表位为基础构建了4个重组质粒：1 pIRES/HA（表达全长的HA基因）;2 pIRES/tHA（只表达HA基因的主要抗原表位区）;3 pIRES/tHANpep（融合表达HA基因的抗原表位区和NP基因的3个CTL表位）;4 pIRES/tHANpep-IFN-γ（用鸡的IFN-γ基因取代质粒pIRES/tHANpep中的neo基因）。分别用这4个重组质粒和空载体质粒pIRES1neo肌注免疫30日龄SPF鸡。免疫3次,间隔为2周,每次每只鸡的剂量为200μg。第3次免疫后两周以高致病性禽流感病毒H5N1强毒攻击,免疫及攻毒前后均采血检测HI抗体效价和外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞的变化。结果发现,攻毒前各质粒免疫组均检测不到HI抗体,攻毒后1周存活鸡HI抗体效价迅速升高到64～256。流式细胞仪检测显示外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞在疫苗免疫后都有不同程度的升高。空载体质粒对照组鸡（10只）在攻毒后3～8 d内全部死亡,其他各重组质粒免疫组鸡都获得了部分保护,保护率分别是：pIRES/HA组为545%（6/11）,pIRES/tHA组为30%（3/10）,pIRES/tHANPep组为36.3%（4/11）, pIRES/tHANPepIFNγ组为50%（5/10）。这些结果表明我们构建的多表位DNA疫苗能够诱导机体产生特异性免疫应答,并在同型禽流感强毒攻击时对鸡只提供了一定的保护。     

H7N9禽流感病毒裂解佐剂(MF59)疫苗的长期免疫原性研究

目的 评价H7N9禽流感病毒裂解佐剂(MF59)疫苗的长期免疫原性。方法 制备含MF59佐剂的H7N9禽流感病毒裂解疫苗成品,放置于(6±2)℃环境下,取保存6、24和30个月后的疫苗,对小鼠进行免疫,以血凝抑制效价和微量中和抗体滴度来评估该疫苗的免疫原性。同时,用存放30个月的疫苗进行2次免疫后,对小鼠进行攻毒,观察MF59佐剂疫苗的免疫保护效应。结果 H7N9禽流感病毒裂解佐剂(MF59)疫苗在(6±2)℃保存30个月后免疫小鼠,检测其血凝抑制抗体效价和微量中和抗体滴度均没有明显的变化,且免疫小鼠能够有效抵御H7N9病毒的感染及其致病效应。结论 H7N9禽流感病毒裂解佐剂(MF59)疫苗具有良好的免疫原性,在(6±2)℃至少可保存30个月。     

共表达H5N1、H7N1亚型AIV HA与鸡IL-18多价重组鸡痘病毒免疫保护性研究

用本实验室构建的重组鸡痘病毒rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA,经翼蹼免疫1日龄SPF鸡和7日龄商品Leghorn蛋鸡,同时以H5亚型AIV全病毒灭活疫苗作为对照.免疫后测定HI抗体效价、淋巴细胞转化指标、重组疫苗对增重的影响、免疫后的攻毒保护效力、免疫后的抑制排毒情况.免疫后不同时间分别测定特异性抗体和淋巴细胞刺激指数.试验结果表明,3株重组鸡痘病毒株均能诱导鸡体产生血凝抑制抗体(HI);共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV H5HA-H7HA-IL18诱导商品蛋鸡的细胞免疫水平明显高于非共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA.重组鸡痘疫苗免疫SPF和商品蛋鸡后第21d进行攻毒实验,rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫攻毒保护率达10/10,rFPV-H5HA免疫攻毒保护率达9/10,与常规疫苗相当.免疫的商品蛋鸡于攻毒后7d采集泄殖腔棉试子样品,检测排毒情况.结果表明,rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组在攻毒后第7d无排毒,其抑制免疫鸡排毒效果优于常规疫苗和单独表达HA的rFPV-H5HA重组鸡痘病毒.rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组鸡,在14日龄时的体重明显高于rFPV-H5HA免疫组和常规疫苗对照免疫组,表明共表达的鸡IL-18能降低鸡痘病毒载体对雏鸡增重的影响.     

共表达H5N1、H7N1亚型AIV HA与鸡IL-18多价重组鸡痘病毒免疫保护性研究

用本实验室构建的重组鸡痘病毒rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA,经翼蹼免疫1日龄SPF鸡和7日龄商品Leghorn蛋鸡,同时以H5亚型AIV全病毒灭活疫苗作为对照.免疫后测定HI抗体效价、淋巴细胞转化指标、重组疫苗对增重的影响、免疫后的攻毒保护效力、免疫后的抑制排毒情况.免疫后不同时间分别测定特异性抗体和淋巴细胞刺激指数.试验结果表明,3株重组鸡痘病毒株均能诱导鸡体产生血凝抑制抗体（HI）;共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV H5HA-H7HA-IL18诱导商品蛋鸡的细胞免疫水平明显高于非共表达鸡IL-18的rFPV-H5HA.重组鸡痘疫苗免疫SPF和商品蛋鸡后第21d进行攻毒实验,rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫攻毒保护率达10/10,rFPV-H5HA免疫攻毒保护率达9/10,与常规疫苗相当.免疫的商品蛋鸡于攻毒后7d采集泄殖腔棉试子样品,检测排毒情况.结果表明,rFPV-H5HA-IL18、rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组在攻毒后第7d无排毒,其抑制免疫鸡排毒效果优于常规疫苗和单独表达HA的rFPV-H5HA重组鸡痘病毒.rFPV-H5HA-IL18和rFPV-H5HA-H7HA-IL18免疫组鸡,在14日龄时的体重明显高于rFPV-H5HA免疫组和常规疫苗对照免疫组,表明共表达的鸡IL-18能降低鸡痘病毒载体对雏鸡增重的影响.     

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒HA基因的克隆及其DNA疫苗的动物免疫试验

血凝素(HA)是决定禽流感病毒的毒力强弱和免疫原性的主要蛋白质.根据已发表的H9亚型AIV的HA基因序列,设计合成了1对H9 HA特异引物,以AIV A/Chicken/Henan/1/1999/(H9N2)核酸为模板,通过RT-PCR扩增出1条1.6 kb cDNA片段.将HA基因插入pVAX1中,构建了真核表达质粒pVAX-H9.采用活体电击法免疫3周龄SPF鸡10只,剂量为50 μg/只,3周后加强免疫一次,5周后以100倍鸡胚感染剂量(EID)的HA基因同源病毒对所有鸡进行攻毒.其间每周检测抗体水平变化,6周后以棉拭子进行泄殖腔病毒分离.结果为攻毒后免疫组鸡HI效价为9log2～10log2,对照组为2log2～4log2;免疫组病毒分离数为0/10,对照组为10/10.表明所构建的HA基因表达质粒可作为基因疫苗诱导鸡产生免疫保护反应.     

利用反向遗传学技术构建H5亚型禽流感高产疫苗株

采用RT-PCR技术分别扩增了鹅源高产禽流感病毒的6条内部基因片段,近期分离的H5N1亚型禽流感病毒的血凝素基因以及N3亚型参考毒株的神经氨酸酶基因,分别构建了8个基因的转录与表达载体,利用反向遗传学技术拯救出了全部基因都源于禽源的重组流感病毒疫苗株rH5N3。通过对血凝素蛋白HA1和HA2连接肽处的5个碱性氨基酸(R-R-R-K-K)基因缺失与修饰,从而消除了病毒基因的毒力相关序列,拯救的rH5N3疫苗株对鸡和鸡胚均无致病性,病毒在鸡胚尿囊液和细胞培养上清的HA效价得到极大提高,分别为12048和1512。制备的禽流感疫苗免疫动物后4~5周即可诱导产生高效价的HI抗体,鸡免疫后18周依然保持高水平的HI抗体。重组疫苗不论是对于国内早期分离的禽流感病毒A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96还是近期分离的A/Goose/HLJ/QFY/04都能够产生完全的免疫保护作用,免疫鸡攻毒后不发病、不排毒、不死亡。带有N3鉴别诊断标记禽流感疫苗株的研制为H5N1高致病性禽流感的防治提供了新的技术保障。     

稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒候选DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-HA扩增出禽流感病毒JSGO(H5N1)株的血凝素(HA)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA。通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207*,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)。经体内体外试验证实,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-HA。将重组菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)分别以2×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体。重组菌以5×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫试验鸡,免疫鸡的小肠样品中可测到针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体,且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的抗体效价高于SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的保护率较SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组提高了22.6%,说明稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性。     

DNA Vaccine Encoding Hemagglutinin Provides Protective Immunity against H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Mice

In Hong Kong in 1997, a highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus was apparently transmitted directly from chickens to humans with no intermediate mammalian host and caused 18 confirmed infections and six deaths. Strategies must be developed to deal with this virus if it should reappear, and prospective vaccines must be developed to anticipate a future pandemic. We have determined that unadapted H5N1 viruses are pathogenic in mice, which provides a well-defined mammalian system for immunological studies of lethal avian influenza virus infection. We report that a DNA vaccine encoding hemagglutinin from the index human influenza isolate A/HK/156/97 provides immunity against H5N1 infection of mice. This immunity was induced against both the homologous A/HK/156/97 (H5N1) virus, which has no glycosylation site at residue 154, and chicken isolate A/Ck/HK/258/97 (H5N1), which does have a glycosylation site at residue 154. The mouse model system should allow rapid evaluation of the vaccine’s protective efficacy in a mammalian host. In our previous study using an avian model, DNA encoding hemagglutinin conferred protection against challenge with antigenic variants that differed from the primary antigen by 11 to 13% in the HA1 region. However, in our current study we found that a DNA vaccine encoding the hemagglutinin from A/Ty/Ir/1/83 (H5N8), which differs from A/HK/156/97 (H5N1) by 12% in HA1, prevented death but not H5N1 infection in mice. Therefore, a DNA vaccine made with a heterologous H5 strain did not prevent infection by H5N1 avian influenza viruses in mice but was useful in preventing death.     

Protection of mice and poultry from lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus through adenovirus-based immunization

The recent emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) strains in poultry and their subsequent transmission to humans in Southeast Asia have raised concerns about the potential pandemic spread of lethal disease. In this paper we describe the development and testing of an adenovirus-based influenza A virus vaccine directed against the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) (VN/1203/04) strain isolated during the lethal human outbreak in Vietnam from 2003 to 2005. We expressed different portions of HA from a recombinant replication-incompetent adenoviral vector, achieving vaccine production within 36 days of acquiring the virus sequence. BALB/c mice were immunized with a prime-boost vaccine and exposed to a lethal intranasal dose of VN/1203/04 H5N1 virus 70 days later. Vaccination induced both HA-specific antibodies and cellular immunity likely to provide heterotypic immunity. Mice vaccinated with full-length HA were fully protected from challenge with VN/1203/04. We next evaluated the efficacy of adenovirus-based vaccination in domestic chickens, given the critical role of fowl species in the spread of HPAI worldwide. A single subcutaneous immunization completely protected chickens from an intranasal challenge 21 days later with VN/1203/04, which proved lethal to all control-vaccinated chickens within 2 days. These data indicate that the rapid production and subsequent administration of recombinant adenovirus-based vaccines to both birds and high-risk individuals in the face of an outbreak may serve to control the pandemic spread of lethal avian influenza.     

一种含不同流感病毒血凝素抗原表位的核酸疫苗

流感病毒表面抗原血凝素( hemagglutinin,HA)是流感核酸疫苗重要的靶抗原,针对HA的保护性中和抗体主要由HA上的五个抗原表位诱导产生.在本文中,我们构建了一种以新甲型H1N1流感病毒HA1为骨架的含2个A/PR/8( H1N1)流感病毒HA抗原表位和3个新甲型H1N1流感病毒HA抗原表位的核酸疫苗,并在B...     

Virus-like particle vaccine induces protective immunity against homologous and heterologous strains of influenza virus

Recurrent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus pose the threat of pandemic spread of lethal disease and make it a priority to develop safe and effective vaccines. Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) have been suggested to be a promising vaccine approach. However, VLP-induced immune responses, and their roles in inducing memory immune responses and cross-protective immunity have not been investigated. In this study, we developed VLPs containing influenza virus A/PR8/34 (H1N1) hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix (M1) proteins and investigated their immunogenicity, long-term cross-protective efficacy, and effects on lung proinflammatory cytokines in mice. Intranasal immunization with VLPs containing HA induced high serum and mucosal antibody titers and neutralizing activity against PR8 and A/WSN/33 (H1N1) viruses. Mice immunized with VLPs containing HA showed little or no proinflammatory lung cytokines and were protected from a lethal challenge with mouse-adapted PR8 or WSN viruses even 5 months postimmunization. Influenza VLPs induced mucosal immunoglobulin G and cellular immune responses, which were reactivated rapidly upon virus challenge. Long-lived antibody-secreting cells were detected in the bone marrow of immunized mice. Immune sera administered intranasally were able to confer 100% protection from a lethal challenge with PR8 or WSN, which provides further evidence that anti-HA antibodies are primarily responsible for preventing infection. Taken together, these results indicate that nonreplicating influenza VLPs represent a promising strategy for the development of a safe and effective vaccine to control the spread of lethal influenza viruses.     

甲型H5N1流感病毒M2与HA双基因载体疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫学评价

高致病性H5N1亚型禽流感病毒 (AIV) 严重威胁到人类健康,因此研制高效、安全的禽流感疫苗具有重要意义。以我国分离的首株人H5N1亚型禽流感病毒 (A/Anhui/1/2005) 作为研究对象,PCR扩增基质蛋白2 (M2) 和血凝素 (HA) 基因全长开放阅读框片段,构建共表达H5N1亚型AIV膜蛋白基因 M2和HA的重组质粒pStar-M2/HA。此外,还通过同源重组以293细胞包装出表达M2基因的重组腺病毒Ad-M2以及表达HA基因的重组腺病毒Ad-HA。用间接免疫荧光 (IFA) 方法检测到了各载体上插入基因的表达。按初免-加强程序分别用重组质粒pStar-M2/HA和重组腺病毒Ad-HA+Ad-M2免疫BALB/c小鼠,共免疫4次,每次间隔14 d。第1、3次用DNA疫苗,第2、4次用重组腺病毒载体疫苗,每次免疫前及末次免疫后14 d采集血清用于检测体液免疫应答,末次免疫后14 d采集脾淋巴细胞用于检测细胞免疫应答。血凝抑制 (HI) 实验检测到免疫后小鼠血清中的HI活性。ELISA实验检测到免疫后小鼠血清中抗H5N1亚型流感病毒表面蛋白的IgG抗体。ELISPOT实验检测到免疫后小鼠针对M2蛋白和HA蛋白的特异性细胞免疫应答。流感病毒M2与HA双基因共免疫的研究,为研究开发新型重组流感疫苗奠定了基础。     

DNA疫苗预防B型流感病毒感染

用基因枪和电穿孔法将B型流感病毒DNA疫苗免疫BALB/C小鼠 ,实验证明B型流感病毒HA ,NADNA疫苗能有效抵御致死性同源B型病毒感染。同时实验表明 ,基因枪方法较电穿孔法诱导抗体水平略低。     

A new generation of modified live-attenuated avian influenza viruses using a two-strategy combination as potential vaccine candidates

In light of the recurrent outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), there is a pressing need for the development of vaccines that allow rapid mass vaccination. In this study, we introduced by reverse genetics temperature-sensitive mutations in the PB1 and PB2 genes of an avian influenza virus, A/Guinea Fowl/Hong Kong/WF10/99 (H9N2) (WF10). Further genetic modifications were introduced into the PB1 gene to enhance the attenuated (att) phenotype of the virus in vivo. Using the att WF10 as a backbone, we substituted neuraminidase (NA) for hemagglutinin (HA) for vaccine purposes. In chickens, a vaccination scheme consisting of a single dose of an att H7N2 vaccine virus at 2 weeks of age and subsequent challenge with the wild-type H7N2 LPAI virus resulted in complete protection. We further extended our vaccination strategy against the HPAI H5N1. In this case, we reconstituted an att H5N1 vaccine virus, whose HA and NA genes were derived from an Asian H5N1 virus. A single-dose immunization in ovo with the att H5N1 vaccine virus in 18-day-old chicken embryos resulted in more than 60% protection for 4-week-old chickens and 100% protection for 9- to 12-week-old chickens. Boosting at 2 weeks posthatching provided 100% protection against challenge with the HPAI H5N1 virus for chickens as young as 4 weeks old, with undetectable virus shedding postchallenge. Our results highlight the potential of live att avian influenza vaccines for mass vaccination in poultry.     

Comparative Efficacy of Hemagglutinin,Nucleoprotein, and Matrix 2 Protein Gene-Based Vaccination against H5N1 Influenza in Mouse and Ferret

Efforts to develop a broadly protective vaccine against the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 virus have focused on highly conserved influenza gene products. The viral nucleoprotein (NP) and ion channel matrix protein (M2) are highly conserved among different strains and various influenza A subtypes. Here, we investigate the relative efficacy of NP and M2 compared to HA in protecting against HPAI H5N1 virus. In mice, previous studies have shown that vaccination with NP and M2 in recombinant DNA and/or adenovirus vectors or with adjuvants confers protection against lethal challenge in the absence of HA. However, we find that the protective efficacy of NP and M2 diminishes as the virulence and dose of the challenge virus are increased. To explore this question in a model relevant to human disease, ferrets were immunized with DNA/rAd5 vaccines encoding NP, M2, HA, NP+M2 or HA+NP+M2. Only HA or HA+NP+M2 vaccination conferred protection against a stringent virus challenge. Therefore, while gene-based vaccination with NP and M2 may provide moderate levels of protection against low challenge doses, it is insufficient to confer protective immunity against high challenge doses of H5N1 in ferrets. These immunogens may require combinatorial vaccination with HA, which confers protection even against very high doses of lethal viral challenge.     

Protection against avian influenza H9N2 virus challenge by immunization with hemagglutinin- or neuraminidase-expressing DNA in BALB/c mice

Avian influenza viruses of H9N2 subtype are widely spread in avian species. The viruses have recently been transmitted to mammalian species, including humans, accelerating the efforts to devise protective strategies against them. In this study, an avian influenza H9N2 virus strain (A/Chicken/Jiangsu/7/2002), isolated in Jiangsu Province, China, was used to infect BALB/c mice for adaptation. After five lung-to-lung passages, the virus was stably proliferated in a large quantity in the murine lung and caused the deaths of mice. In addition, we explored the protection induced by H9N2 virus hemagglutinin (HA)- and neuraminidase (NA)-expressing DNAs in BALB/c mice. Female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were immunized once or twice at a 3-week interval with HA-DNA and NA-DNA by electroporation, respectively, each at a dose of 3, 10 or 30microg. The mice were challenged with a lethal dose (40x LD(50)) of influenza H9N2 virus four weeks after immunization once or one week after immunization twice. The protections of DNA vaccines were evaluated by the serum antibody titers, residual lung virus titers, and survival rates of the mice. The result showed that immunization once with not less than 10microg or twice with 3microg HA-DNA or NA-DNA provided effective protection against homologous avian influenza H9N2 virus.     

共表达H5N1流感病毒M1和HA基因的DNA疫苗与腺病毒载体疫苗的小鼠免疫评价

为评价在小鼠体内表达流感病毒M1和HA基因诱导的免疫反应,制备共表达H5N1亚型禽流感病毒 (A/Anhui/1/2005) 全长基质蛋白1 (M1) 基因和血凝素 (HA) 基因的重组DNA疫苗pStar-M1/HA和重组腺病毒载体疫苗Ad-M1/HA,将其按初免-加强程序免疫BALB/c小鼠,共免疫4次,每次间隔14 d。第1、3次用DNA疫苗,第2、4次用重组腺病毒载体疫苗,每次免疫前及末次免疫后14 d采集小鼠血清用于检测体液免疫应答,末次免疫后14 d采集小鼠脾淋巴细胞用于检测细胞免疫应答。血凝