Neuraminidase-Inhibiting Antibody Is a Correlate of Cross-Protection against Lethal H5N1 Influenza Virus in Ferrets Immunized with Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

In preparing for the threat of a pandemic of avian H5N1 influenza virus, we need to consider the significant delay (4 to 6 months) necessary to produce a strain-matched vaccine. As some degree of cross-reactivity between seasonal influenza vaccines and H5N1 virus has been reported, this was further explored in the ferret model to determine the targets of protective immunity. Ferrets were vaccinated with two intramuscular inoculations of trivalent inactivated split influenza vaccine or subcomponent vaccines, with and without adjuvant, and later challenged with a lethal dose of A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) influenza virus. We confirmed that vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccine afforded partial protection against lethal H5N1 challenge and showed that use of either AlPO₄ or Iscomatrix adjuvant with the vaccine resulted in complete protection against disease and death. The protection was due exclusively to the H1N1 vaccine component, and although the hemagglutinin contributed to protection, the dominant protective response was targeted toward the neuraminidase (NA) and correlated with sialic acid cleavage-inhibiting antibody titers. Purified heterologous NA formulated with Iscomatrix adjuvant was also protective. These results suggest that adjuvanted seasonal trivalent vaccine could be used as an interim measure to decrease morbidity and mortality from H5N1 prior to the availability of a specific vaccine. The data also highlight that an inducer of cross-protective immunity is the NA, a protein whose levels are not normally monitored in vaccines and whose capacity to induce immunity in recipients is not normally assessed.     

Recombinant Parainfluenza Virus 5 Expressing Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Virus H5N1 Protected Mice against Lethal Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 Challenge

A safe and effective vaccine is the best way to prevent large-scale highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks in the human population. The current FDA-approved H5N1 vaccine has serious limitations. A more efficacious H5N1 vaccine is urgently needed. Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), a paramyxovirus, is not known to cause any illness in humans. PIV5 is an attractive vaccine vector. In our studies, a single dose of a live recombinant PIV5 expressing a hemagglutinin (HA) gene of H5N1 (rPIV5-H5) from the H5N1 subtype provided sterilizing immunity against lethal doses of HPAI H5N1 infection in mice. Furthermore, we have examined the effect of insertion of H5N1 HA at different locations within the PIV5 genome on the efficacy of a PIV5-based vaccine. Interestingly, insertion of H5N1 HA between the leader sequence, the de facto promoter of PIV5, and the first viral gene, nucleoprotein (NP), did not lead to a viable virus. Insertion of H5N1 HA between NP and the next gene, V/phosphorprotein (V/P), led to a virus that was defective in growth. We have found that insertion of H5N1 HA at the junction between the small hydrophobic (SH) gene and the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene gave the best immunity against HPAI H5N1 challenge: a dose as low as 1,000 PFU was sufficient to protect against lethal HPAI H5N1 challenge in mice. The work suggests that recombinant PIV5 expressing H5N1 HA has great potential as an HPAI H5N1 vaccine.     

Vaccination against Human Influenza A/H3N2 Virus Prevents the Induction of Heterosubtypic Immunity against Lethal Infection with Avian Influenza A/H5N1 Virus

Annual vaccination against seasonal influenza viruses is recommended for certain individuals that have a high risk for complications resulting from infection with these viruses. Recently it was recommended in a number of countries including the USA to vaccinate all healthy children between 6 and 59 months of age as well. However, vaccination of immunologically naïve subjects against seasonal influenza may prevent the induction of heterosubtypic immunity against potentially pandemic strains of an alternative subtype, otherwise induced by infection with the seasonal strains.Here we show in a mouse model that the induction of protective heterosubtypic immunity by infection with a human A/H3N2 influenza virus is prevented by effective vaccination against the A/H3N2 strain. Consequently, vaccinated mice were no longer protected against a lethal infection with an avian A/H5N1 influenza virus. As a result H3N2-vaccinated mice continued to loose body weight after A/H5N1 infection, had 100-fold higher lung virus titers on day 7 post infection and more severe histopathological changes than mice that were not protected by vaccination against A/H3N2 influenza.The lack of protection correlated with reduced virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses after A/H5N1 virus challenge infection. These findings may have implications for the general recommendation to vaccinate all healthy children against seasonal influenza in the light of the current pandemic threat caused by highly pathogenic avian A/H5N1 influenza viruses.     

Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Migratory Birds

H5N1avianinfluenza virus(AIV)has emerged as a pathogenic entityfor a variety of species,including humans,inre-cent years.Here we report an outbreak among migratory birds on Lake Qinghaihu,China,in May and June2005,inwhich more than a thousand birds were affected.Pancreatic necrosis and abnormal neurological symptoms were the majorclinical features.Sequencing of the complete genomes of four H5N1AIVstrains revealedthemto be reassortants relatedto a peregrine falconisolate from Hong Kong an…     

H5N1型禽流感病毒感染非人灵长类动物的观察

目的观察H5N1型禽流感病毒对中国非人灵长类动物的易感性并建立动物模型。方法将病毒通过滴鼻接种实验猴,观察感染后动物的临床症状,采血、咽拭子及各器官组织进行血清学、病原学及病理学检查,记录抗体变化、病毒分离情况及病理学改变。结果感染后动物表现轻度食欲下降、一过性体温升高及外周血白细胞减少,肺组织病毒分离及RT-PCR阳性,病理检查感染急性期动物肺组织表现为间质性肺炎,肺泡间隔增宽,充血出血明显,肺泡受压变形,间质及肺泡内有大量炎细胞浸润,符合病毒性肺炎的改变,感染后14 d动物血清IgG抗体水平较感染前升高4倍。结论H5N1病毒可感染非人灵长类动物,可以作为感染模型进行H5N1病毒的发病机制、疫苗评价、药物筛选等研究。     

Viremia Associated with Fatal Outcomes in Ferrets Infected with Avian H5N1 Influenza Virus

Avian H5N1 influenza viruses cause severe disease and high mortality in infected humans. However, tissue tropism and underlying pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection in humans needs further investigation. The objective of this work was to study viremia, tissue tropism and disease pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection in the susceptible ferret animal model. To evaluate the relationship of morbidity and mortality with virus loads, we performed studies in ferrets infected with the H5N1 strain A/VN/1203/04 to assess clinical signs after infection and virus load in lung, brain, ileum, nasal turbinate, nasal wash, and blood. We observed that H5N1 infection in ferrets is characterized by high virus load in the brain and and low levels in the ileum using real-time PCR. In addition, viral RNA was frequently detected in blood one or two days before death and associated with symptoms of diarrhea. Our observations further substantiate pathogenicity of H5N1 and further indicate that viremia may be a bio-marker for fatal outcomes in H5N1 infection.     

Monoclonal Antibodies against the Fusion Peptide of Hemagglutinin Protect Mice from Lethal Influenza A Virus H5N1 Infection

The HA2 glycopolypeptide (gp) is highly conserved in all influenza A virus strains, and it is known to play a major role in the fusion of the virus with the endosomal membrane in host cells during the course of viral infection. Vaccines and therapeutics targeting this HA2 gp could induce efficient broad-spectrum immunity against influenza A virus infections. So far, there have been no studies on the possible therapeutic effects of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), specifically against the fusion peptide of hemagglutinin (HA), upon lethal infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. We have identified MAb 1C9, which binds to GLFGAIAGF, a part of the fusion peptide of the HA2 gp. We evaluated the efficacy of MAb 1C9 as a therapy for influenza A virus infections. This MAb, which inhibited cell fusion in vitro when administered passively, protected 100% of mice from challenge with five 50% mouse lethal doses of HPAI H5N1 influenza A viruses from two different clades. Furthermore, it caused earlier clearance of the virus from the lung. The influenza virus load was assessed in lung samples from mice challenged after pretreatment with MAb 1C9 (24 h prior to challenge) and from mice receiving early treatment (24 h after challenge). The study shows that MAb 1C9, which is specific to the antigenically conserved fusion peptide of HA2, can contribute to the cross-clade protection of mice infected with H5N1 virus and mediate more effective recovery from infection.Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H5N1 strains are currently causing major morbidity and mortality in poultry populations across Asia, Europe, and Africa and have caused 385 confirmed human infections, with a fatality rate of 63.11% (37, 39). Preventive and therapeutic measures against circulating H5N1 strains have received a lot of interest and effort globally to prevent another pandemic outbreak. Influenza A virus poses a challenge because it rapidly alters its appearance to the immune system by antigenic drift (mutating) and antigenic shift (exchanging its components) (5). The current strategies to combat influenza include vaccination and antiviral drug treatment, with vaccination being the preferred option. The annual influenza vaccine aims to stimulate the generation of anti-hemagglutinin (anti-HA) neutralizing antibodies, which confer protection against homologous strains. Current vaccines have met with various degrees of success (31). The facts that these strategies target the highly variable HA determinant and that predicting the major HA types that pose the next epidemic threat is difficult are significant limitations to the current antiviral strategy. In the absence of an effective vaccine, therapy is the mainstay of control of influenza virus infection.Therefore, therapeutic measures against influenza will play a major role in case a pandemic arises due to H5N1 strains. Currently licensed antiviral drugs include the M2 ion-channel inhibitors (rimantidine and amantidine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir). The H5N1 viruses are known to be resistant to the M2 ion-channel inhibitors (2, 3). Newer strains of H5N1 viruses are being isolated which are also resistant to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) (5, 17). The neuraminidase inhibitors also require high doses and prolonged treatment (5, 40), increasing the likelihood of unwanted side effects. Hence, alternative strategies for treatment of influenza are warranted.Recently, passive immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has been viewed as a viable option for treatment (26). The HA gene is the most variable gene of the influenza virus and also the most promising target for generating antibodies. It is synthesized as a precursor polypeptide, HA0, which is posttranslationally cleaved to two polypeptides, HA1 and HA2, linked by a disulfide bond. MAbs against the HA1 glycopolypeptide (gp) are known to neutralize the infectivity of the virus and hence provide good protection against infection (12). However, they are less efficient against heterologous or mutant strains, which are continuously arising due to antigenic shift and, to an extent, drift. Recent strategies for alternative therapy explore the more conserved epitopes of the influenza virus antigens (18, 33), which not only have the potential to stimulate a protective immune response but are also conserved among different subtypes, so as to offer protection against a broader range of viruses.The HA2 polypeptide represents a highly conserved region of HA across influenza A virus strains. The HA2 gp is responsible for the fusion of the virus and the host endosomal membrane during the entry of the virus into the cell (16). Previously, anti-HA MAbs that lacked HA inhibition activity were studied and were found to reduce the infectivity of non-H5 influenza virus subtypes by inhibition of fusion during viral replication (14). They are known to block fusion of the virus to the cell membrane at the postbinding and prefusion stage, thereby inhibiting viral replication. Furthermore, in vivo studies show that anti-HA2 MAbs that exhibit fusion inhibition activity contribute to protection and recovery from H3N2 influenza A virus infection (8). It is interesting that although the HA2 gp is generally conserved, the fusion peptide represents the most conserved region of the HA protein. So far, there have been no studies on the possible therapeutic effects of MAbs, specifically against the fusion peptide of HA, on lethal HPAI H5N1 infections.Previous studies have suggested that HA2 could contain a potential epitope responsible for the induction of antibody-mediated protective immunity (9). In the present study, a panel of MAbs against HA2 gp was characterized for their respective epitopes by epitope mapping. The therapeutic and prophylactic efficacies of these MAbs were evaluated in mice challenged with HPAI H5N1 virus infection.     

Mx1 Gene Protects Mice Against the Highly Lethal Human H5N1 Influenza Virus

We investigated the importance of the host Mx1 gene in protection against highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Mice expressing the Mx1 gene survived infection with the lethal human H5N1 isolate A/Vietnam/1203/04 and with reassortants combining its genes with those of the non-lethal virus A/chicken/Vietnam/C58/04, while all Mx1–/– mice succumbed. Mx1-expressing mice showed lower organ virus titers, fewer lesions, and less pulmonary inflammation. Our data support the hypothesis that Mx1 expression protects mice against the high pathogenicity of H5N1 virus through inhibition of viral polymerase activity ultimately resulting in reduced viral growth and spread. Drugs that mimic this mechanism may be protective in humans.     

MDA5 Can Be Exploited as Efficacious Genetic Adjuvant for DNA Vaccination against Lethal H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Chickens

Chickens lack the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and sense avian influenza virus (AIV) infections by means of the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 product (chMDA5). Plasmid-driven expression of the N-terminal half of chMDA5 containing the caspase activation and recruitment domains [chMDA5(1-483)] triggers interferon-β responses in chicken cells. We hypothesized that mimicking virus infection by chMDA5(1-483) expression may enhance vaccine-induced adaptive immunity. In order to test this, the potential genetic adjuvant properties of chMDA5(1-483) were evaluated in vivo in combination with a suboptimal quantity of a plasmid DNA vaccine expressing haemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1 AIV. Co-administration of the HA plasmid with plasmid DNA for chMDA5(1-483) expression resulted in approximately 10-fold higher HA-specific antibody responses than injection of the HA plasmid mixed with empty vector DNA as control. Accordingly, compared with HA DNA vaccination alone, the chMDA5(1-483)-adjuvanted HA DNA vaccine mediated enhanced protection against a lethal H5N1 challenge infection in chickens, with reduced clinical signs and cloacal virus shedding. These data demonstrate that innate immune activation by expression of signaling domains of RIG-I-like receptors can be exploited to enhance vaccine efficacy.     

糖尿病小鼠对H5N1病毒的易感性及灭活疫苗诱导的免疫反应

糖尿病患者免疫功能低下,是流感病毒感染的高危人群.研制有效的流感病毒疫苗对糖尿病患者尤为重要.以注射STZ的方法建立糖尿病小鼠模型,比较糖尿病小鼠和健康小鼠对H5N1病毒易感性的差异.病毒感染3 d后糖尿病小鼠的肺部病毒滴度比健康小鼠高,显示糖尿病小鼠对H5N1病毒更易感.用一次免疫的方法接种不同剂量的H5N1灭活疫苗(单独免疫或与佐剂共同免疫),比较其在糖尿病小鼠和健康小鼠诱导抗体应答的能力.一次免疫H5N1流感病毒灭活疫苗可诱导糖尿病小鼠产生体液免疫应答,但其抗体量低于健康小鼠,增加疫苗剂量可提高抗体水平.佐剂能增强H5N1全病毒灭活疫苗在糖尿病小鼠体内诱导的抗体反应.     

建立H5N1流感病毒感染雪貂动物模型

目的建立甲型H5N1流感病毒感染雪貂动物模型[1-3]。方法 H5N1流感病毒株A/Vietnam/1203/2004病毒以103和104 TCID50滴度分别感染雪貂。对4～10月龄去势雪貂经兽用氯胺酮轻度麻醉后进行滴鼻感染,每个稀释度接种3只雪貂,感染后第5天安乐处死。感染后每天记录雪貂一般临床变化。感染前0 d采集鼻甲骨活检,感染后1～5 d鼻甲骨活检检测病毒载量和病毒滴度。处死时取雪貂气管、肺、心、肝、脾、肾、小肠、脑组织作病毒滴度检测和病理检查。结果 H5N1103和104 TCID50的病毒分别感染雪貂,雪貂死亡都率在33%。103TCID50和104 TCID50病毒分别感染雪貂,动物都出现持续3 d体温升高,104 TCID50组出现超过20%的体重下降。上呼吸道排毒呈现上升趋势,并可在除呼吸系统以外的组织器官中分离到病毒。感染的雪貂病理表现为重度肺炎。结论雪貂感染H5N1病毒株后在临床表现、病毒学、分子生物学、病理学方面的检测都可以证实雪貂感染H5N1病毒动物模型已建立,104 TCID50病毒滴度是一个建立感染动物模型比较合适的剂量。     

雪貂感染流感病毒H3N2动物模型的建立

目的建立甲型流感病毒H3N2感染的雪貂动物模型。方法按实验要求筛选出流感抗体反应阴性的雪貂,经兽用氯胺酮轻度麻醉后进行滴鼻感染H3N2流感病毒株A/Brisbane/10/07,设立两个稀释度106和107 TCID50,每个稀释度接种3只雪貂,感染后第5天安乐处死。感染前采集鼻甲骨活检,感染后1～5 d鼻甲骨活检检测病毒载量,每天记录雪貂一般临床变化。处死时取雪貂肺、肝、脾、小肠、脑组织作病毒滴度检测,肺组织做病理检查。结果 106和107TCID50的H3N2病毒分别感染雪貂,没有雪貂死亡。雪貂感染后都出现一过性的体温升高,体重的下降,流涕、打喷嚏等症状。在鼻甲骨活检物中可测到病毒载量,肠组织可分离到病毒。肺组织以轻度性间质性肺炎为主要病理变化。结论雪貂感染H3N2病毒株A/Brisbane/10/07后,临床表现、病毒学、分子生物学、病理学方面的检测都可以证实雪貂感染H3N2病毒动物模型已建立,其中106 TCID50病毒滴度的是一个建立感染动物模型比较合适的剂量。     

禽流感H5N1亚型病毒感染ICR小鼠的动物模型

目的 建立H5N1禽流感病毒感染ICR小鼠的疾病动物模型.方法 将100 μL H5N1 禽流感病毒原液(EID50为105.37/0.2 mL) 鼻腔接种ICR小鼠,设生理盐水组、正常尿囊液组对照,接毒后14 d内每隔12 h观察一次,主要观测指标有临床体征、体重和体温变化、死亡率、病理变化、病毒分离和血清抗体检测 (ELISA方法).结果 被感染的ICR小鼠的病程可以划分为潜伏期 (第0～1天)、急性感染期 (第2～7天)、恢复期 (第8～14天),急性感染期表现出活动明显减少,弓背,反应性差,扎堆;接毒后第1天开始体温和体重下降,第6天体温和体重停止下降;接毒组ICR小鼠累计的死亡率为60%;急性感染期ICR小鼠的肺部病变最严重,表现为间质性肺炎,肺间质充血、水肿和淋巴细胞浸润,毛细血管扩张,上皮细胞变性、坏死、脱落,并有充血和单核细胞浸润;接毒后第1天至第8天可在小鼠的肺、脑、气管和心、肝、脾、肾分离到病毒;接毒后第6天从ICR小鼠血清中检测到抗体.结论 本实验室建立的H5N1禽流感病毒感染ICR小鼠的模型在临床表现、体重变化、死亡率、病理变化、病毒复制指标能达到禽流感病毒疾病模型的造模要求,符合人类禽流感感染疾病的基本特征.     

虎源H5N1亚型禽流感病毒感染小鼠模型的建立

为研究H5N1亚型禽流感病毒的病原特性、致病机理及对其疫苗与救治药物效果评价提供平台,利用本室分离鉴定的虎源A/Tiger/Harbin/01/2002株(简称HAB/01)H5N1亚型禽流感病毒进行连续10倍稀释后,对4～6周龄 雄性BALB/c小鼠经乙醚麻醉后进行滴鼻攻毒,每个稀释度接种10只实验小鼠,测定其MLD50,检测小鼠感染、致病的多项指标,观察期为14d.结果感染小鼠呈现出规律的以肺炎为主的临床症状、病理变化及病死率;测得该病毒对小鼠的MLD50为10-7.1/0.05mL.成功建立了虎源H5N1亚型禽流感病毒感染BALB/c小鼠的实验模型.