Efficacy of a DNA vaccine delivered in attenuated Salmonella typhimurium against Eimeria tenella infection in chickens

The efficacy of an oral DNA vaccine carrying the Eimeria tenella 5401 antigen gene delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium was examined in an experimental challenge study. The DNA vaccine preparation was made by transforming the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-5401 into the attenuated S. typhimurium strain (Dam(-) and PhoP(-)) (designated hereafter as ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401). The chickens were randomly divided into six groups, 50 per group. Group A were given PBS as control. Chickens in group B were fed with 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) of attenuated S. typhimurium carrying pcDNA3. Group C were immunised with 100 microg of the recombinant 5401 protein via intramuscular injection. Groups D to F orally received ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 at doses of 10(7), 10(8) and 10(9)CFU per chicken, respectively. All immunisations were boosted 2 weeks later. The immunised chickens were challenged with 6x10(4) homologous sporulated oocysts 14 days after the second immunisation. No significant differences in body weight were detected between the groups before immunisation and at week 4 after the booster immunisation. The ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 was eventually eliminated from the spleen and liver on week 6 post-immunisation. The plasmid pcDNA3-5401 was stably maintained in over 80% of the attenuated S. typhimurium population after 100 generations of growth in antibiotic-free media. Oral immunisation of chickens with ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 elicited specific humoral responses and stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lymphocyte proliferation response was significantly higher in all vaccinated groups than in the control chickens. Antibody response was significantly lower in group C than in groups immunised with strain ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401. Vaccination with the strain ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 at 10(8) (group E) and 10(9) (group F) CFU per chicken provided 55.0 and 57.5% protection against E. tenella challenge, respectively. These results have important implications for the development of DNA vaccines against avian coccidiosis by bacteria-vectored oral delivery system.     

An Eimeria vaccine candidate based on Eimeria tenella immune mapped protein 1 and the TLR-5 agonist Salmonella typhimurium FliC flagellin

Immune mapped protein-1 (IMP1) is a new protective protein in apicomplexan parasites, and exits in Eimeria tenella. But its structure and immunogenicity in E. tenella are still unknown. In this study, IMPI in E. tenella was predicted to be a membrane protein. To evaluate immunogenicity of IMPI in E. tenella, a chimeric subunit vaccine consisting of E. tenella IMP1 (EtIMP1) and a molecular adjuvant (a truncated flagellin, FliC) was constructed and over-expressed in Escherichia coli and its efficacy against E. tenella infection was evaluated. Three-week-old AA broiler chickens were vaccinated with the recombinant EtIMP1-truncated FliC without adjuvant or EtIMP1 with Freund’s Complete Adjuvant. Immunization of chickens with the recombinant EtIMP1-truncated FliC fusion protein resulted in stronger cellular immune responses than immunization with only recombinant EtIMP1 with adjuvant. The clinical effect of the EtIMP1-truncated FliC without adjuvant was also greater than that of the EtIMP1 with adjuvant, which was evidenced by the differences between the two groups in body weight gain, oocyst output and caecal lesions of E. tenella-challenged chickens. The results suggested that the EtIMP1-flagellin fusion protein can be used as an effective immunogen in the development of subunit vaccines against Eimeria infection. This is the first demonstration of antigen-specific protective immunity against avian coccidiosis using a recombinant flagellin as an apicomplexan parasite vaccine adjuvant in chickens.     

Establishment of Eimeria tenella (local isolate) in chicken embryos

Development of an in vitro Eimeria (E.) tenella model could be valuable as a tool for vaccine, coccidiostats or molecular biology research. 1.0 × 10,000 sporozoites per 0.1 mL were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of ten-day-old chicken embryos. The complete life-cycle of E. tenella was accomplished in eight-nine days at 37 °C and 70% humidity. The addition of 100 U insulin to the embryos could remarkably improve the output of oocysts. The development of the parasite within the embryos was systematically observed, allowing guidelines to be set regarding the appropriate times at which different developmental stages of the parasite may be sampled.     

A single dose of recombinant Salmonella typhimurium induces specific humoral immune responses against heterologous Eimeria tenella antigens in chicken

Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strains were used as antigen delivery system for oral immunisation of chickens against two antigens of the coccidian parasite Eimeria tenella. The cDNAs of the known E. tenella proteins, SO7 and TA4, were isolated from total RNA and subcloned into the expression vectors pQE30 and pTECH2. Subcutaneous immunisation of chickens with Escherichia coli-expressed SO7 and TA4 revealed that both proteins were immunogenic. Both cDNAs were subcloned into plasmids of the pTECH2 vector system, which allows them to be expressed as fusion proteins with the highly immunogenic fragment C of the tetanus toxin under control of the anaerobically inducible nirB promoter. Plasmids were introduced into the S. typhimurium vaccine strains SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed expression of both fusion proteins in all strains under anaerobic culture conditions. Three-week-old white leghorn chickens were orally immunised with 10(9) CFU per animal. The stability of the recombinant bacteria was revealed by recovery of viable Salmonella containing the respective plasmids from the liver of the immunised chickens at day 3 after inoculation. Specific serum IgG antibodies against the SO7-or TA4-antigens were detectable by ELISA 2 weeks after oral immunisation and remained for at least 6 weeks, while specific IgA antibodies were restricted to the bile of the birds. All chickens produced serum IgG and IgA to S. typhimurium lipopolysaccharides. Our data show that a single oral inoculation with recombinant S. typhimurium SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA can induce specific antibody responses to heterologous Eimeria antigens in chickens, suggesting that recombinant Salmonella are a suitable delivery system for vaccines against Eimeria infections.     

A Novel Recombinant BCG Vaccine Encoding Eimeria tenella Rhomboid and Chicken IL-2 Induces Protective Immunity Against Coccidiosis

A novel recombinant Bacille Calmette-Guerin (rBCG) vaccine co-expressed Eimeria tenella rhomboid and cytokine chicken IL-2 (chIL-2) was constructed, and its efficacy against E. tenella challenge was observed. The rhomboid gene of E. tenella and chIL-2 gene were subcloned into integrative expression vector pMV361, producing vaccines rBCG pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2. Animal experiment via intranasal and subcutaneous route in chickens was carried out to evaluate the immune efficacy of the vaccines. The results indicated that these rBCG vaccines could obviously alleviate cacal lesions and oocyst output. Intranasal immunization with pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2 elicited better protective immunity against E. tenella than subcutaneous immunization. Splenocytes from chickens immunized with either rBCG pMV361-rho and pMV361-rho-IL2 had increased CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell production. Our data indicate recombinant BCG is able to impart partial protection against E. tenella challenge and co-expression of cytokine with antigen was an effective strategy to improve vaccine immunity.     

Eimeria tenella: construction of a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing rhomboid gene and its protective efficacy against homologous infection

A recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) expressing the Eimeria tenella rhomboid gene was constructed and its protective efficacy against homologous infection in chickens determined. Three-day-old-specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens were immunized s.c. with 10(2) plaque forming units (PFU), 10(4) PFU, or 10(6) PFU of rFPV-rhomboid, and challenged with 5x10(4) homologous sporulated oocysts 14 days post-immunization (p.i.). The specific antibody response and lymphocyte proliferation were measured 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks p.i. Oocyst output, body weight gains and lesion scores were measured to evaluate the protective effects of immunization. rFPV-rhomboid elicited a specific humoral immune response and stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lesion scores in groups vaccinated with rFPV-rhomboid were significantly higher than in other groups. At the same time, rFPV-rhomboid improved body weight significantly compared with other groups. Immunization with rFPV-rhomboid reduced oocyst shedding significantly, resulting in a protection rate of 39.6%, 41.1% or 41.7% given a dose of 10(2) PFU, 10(4) PFU, or 10(6) PFU of rFPV-rhomboid, respectively. These results indicated that rFPV can induce immune responses and offer partial protection of chickens against E. tenella challenge.     

Partial protection against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella induced by synthetic peptide vaccine

Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease of poultry industry and an ideal vaccine should induce long-lasting cross-species protective immunity. Broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were inoculated with single, double or triple injections of a synthetic peptide (derived from sequences of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella antigens) homogenized in Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants. The immune responses to the vaccine were assessed by evaluation of antibody and lymphocyte proliferation responses, and the degree of resistance of vaccinated chickens to challenge with sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina or E. tenella determined by comparison of their oocyst output with those of control chickens. The results indicated that the synthetic peptide vaccine induced a high level of antibody and cellular responses associated with partial cross-species protection against challenge with sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina or E. tenella.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫重组鸡痘病毒的构建与免疫保护研究

以鸡柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenella)杂交株F2的RNA为模板,应用反转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)技术扩增了杂交株F2的Rhomboid蛋白家族相关基因,将PCR产物克隆至pMD18-T载体中,构建出克隆质粒pMD-Rhomboid.以KpnⅠ、PstⅠ双酶切重组质粒pMD-Rhomboid和鸡痘病毒载体质粒pUTA2,并将纯化的Rhomboid基因亚克隆至鸡痘病毒载体pUTA2复合启动子下游,构建出真核表达重组质粒pUTA-Rhomboid.采用脂质体转染技术,将该质粒转染FPV282E4株感染的鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)中,通过BrdU药物加压筛选,并通过RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹等方法检测,筛选出一株球虫鸡痘重组病毒rFPV-Rhomboid.进一步经CEF扩增病毒后,免疫雏鸡,监测免疫指标.结果表明:重组病毒接种鸡外周血中的CD4 、CD8 含量显著高于非免疫对照组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,重组病毒对鸡的增重效果差异显著(P<0.05),对E.tenella的攻击具有一定的保护作用,显示出较好的应用前景.     

Immunostimulating complexes incorporating Eimeria tenella antigens and plant saponins as effective delivery system for coccidia vaccine immunization

Immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs) are unique, multimolecular structures formed by encapsulating antigens, lipids, and triterpene saponins of plant origin, and are an effective delivery system for various kinds of antigens. The uses of ISCOMs formulated with saponins from plants collected in Kazakhstan, with antigens from the poultry coccidian parasite Eimeria tenella, were evaluated for their potential use in developing a vaccine for control of avian coccidiosis. Saponins isolated from the plants Aesculus hippocastanum and Glycyrrhiza glabra were partially purified by HPLC. The saponin fractions obtained from HPLC were evaluated for toxicity in chickens and chicken embryos. The HPLC saponin fractions with the least toxicity, compared to a commercial saponin Quil A, were used to assemble ISCOMs. When chicks were immunized with ISCOMs prepared with saponins from Kazakhstan plants and E. tenella antigens, and then challenged with E. tenella oocysts, significant protection was conveyed compared to immunization with antigen alone. The results of this study indicate that ISCOMs formulated with saponins isolated from plants indigenous to Kazakhstan are an effective antigen delivery system which may be successfully used, with low toxicity, for preparation of highly immunogenic coccidia vaccine.     

Trichinella spiralis: Immune response and protective immunity elicited by recombinant paramyosin formulated with different adjuvants

Our previous studies showed that immunization with recombinant paramyosin from Trichinella spiralis (rTs-Pmy) formulated with Freund’s adjuvant significantly reduced larval burden in mice after T. spiralis larval challenge. Since Freund’s adjuvant is toxic and not a suitable adjuvant for clinical vaccine trials, we evaluated the ability of the adjuvants Montanide ISA206 and ISA720 to stimulate immune responses during rTs-Pmy immunization and to enhance protective immunity. The results revealed that immunization of BALB/c mice with rTs-Pmy formulated with either ISA206 or ISA720 triggered Th1 and Th2 immune responses similar to those produced by the conventional Freund’s adjuvant formulation and also provided a similar level of protection against T. spiralis larval challenge. This indicates that the recombinant Ts-Pmy formulated with Montanide ISA206 or ISA720 may be an effective and safety vaccine strategy for trichinellosis.     

Experimental study of polyvalent proteus antigen immunogenicity]

The experiments on 52 rabbits have been carried out to show the possibility to use Proteus antigen with high content of H-component (H1; H2; H3 Proteus antigens are most frequently found) for active immunization to make highly specific humoral immunity. The optimal scheme of immunization consists of 3 subcutaneous injections in doses of 0.25-0.25-0.5 mg of antigen within 7 days intervals and 0.25 mg dose of single revaccination. The duration of cycle immunization is 14 days.     

Efficacy of a DNA Vaccine Carrying Eimeria maxima Gam56 Antigen Gene against Coccidiosis in Chickens

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and 100 µg/chick). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with 5×10⁴ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.     

Thermal Stability of an Oral Killed-Cholera-Whole-Cell Vaccine Containing Recombinant B-Subunit of Cholera Toxin

An oral killed cholera vaccine containing 1×10¹¹ cells of Vibrio cholerae O1 (heat- or formalin-killed) representing the Ogawa and Inaba biotypes and containing 1 mg of B-subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) produced by recombinant DNA technology (the WC/rCTB vaccine) was subjected to temperatures of 4 C, 30 C or 42 C for up to 6 months time. Lipopolysaccharide antigen (LPS) and CTB content of the vaccine samples determined at various times remained unchanged during the study except for the CTB component which decreased by about 50% after 6 months of storage at 42 C. Immunogenicity determined by immunization of rabbits with the vaccine in Freund's complete adjuvant and measuring anti-LPS and anti-CTB antibody titers in the serum by an ELISA was also found to be unaltered. Lyophilization of the vaccine and storage at room temperature for 7 days also did not have any adverse effect on antigen content or immunogenicity as tested above. There was up to one log reduction in serum antibody titers after immunization without using any adjuvant or using Freund's incomplete adjuvant, and up to two logs following oral immunization. Immunization by oral feeding of the vaccine followed by RITARD challenge with a virulent V. cholerae O1 strain showed evidence of protection against severe or lethal diarrhea. The results suggest that the vaccine retains its antigen content and ability to induce antibodies unchanged when maintained at elevated temperatures for relatively long periods of time.     

Transgenic Eimeria tenella expressing enhanced yellow fluorescent protein targeted to different cellular compartments stimulated dichotomic immune responses in chickens

Eimeria tenella, one of the seven species of chicken coccidia, elicits protective immunity against challenge infection with both homologous and heterologous strains. We endeavor to use recombinant E. tenella as a vaccine vehicle for expressing and delivering pathogen Ags and investigate immune responses against these foreign Ags. In this study, two lines of transgenic E. tenella expressing a model Ag, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), targeted to the micronemes and to the cytoplasm of the recombinant parasites were constructed to study the impact of Ag compartmentalization on immunogenicity. The MTT assay, intracellular cytokine staining, and real-time PCR were performed to detect the EYFP-specific proliferation and effector functions of splenic lymphocytes of immunized chickens. ELISA was used to measure anti-EYFP IgG and IgA responses. The results showed that both lines of transgenic parasites stimulated EYFP-specific lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells, whereas a higher level of Ag-specific lymphocyte proliferation was elicited by the transgenic line expressing microneme-targeted EYFP. Furthermore, this line stimulated stronger IgA response than the one expressing cytoplasm-targeted EYFP after the second immunization. Our findings are encouraging for further investigation of the effect of Ag compartmentalization in transgenic Eimeria on immunogenicity and for the development of a eukaryotic vaccine vector using genetically modified Apicomplexa parasites.     

A DNA vaccine encoding for TcSSP4 induces protection against acute and chronic infection in experimental Chagas disease

Immunization of mice with plasmids containing genes of Trypanosoma cruzi induces protective immunity in the murine model of Chagas disease. A cDNA clone that codes for an amastigote-specific surface protein (TcSSP4) was used as a candidate to develop a DNA vaccine. Mice were immunized with the recombinant protein rTcSSP4 and with cDNA for TcSSP4, and challenged with bloodstream trypomastigotes. Immunization with rTcSSP4 protein makes mice more susceptible to trypomastigote infection, with high mortality rates, whereas mice immunized with a eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the TcSSP4 cDNA were able to control the acute phase of infection. Heart tissue of gene-vaccinated animals did not show myocarditis and tissue damage at 365 days following infection, as compared with control animals. INF-γ was detected in sera of DNA vaccinated mice shortly after immunization, suggesting the development of a Th1 response. The TcSSP4 gene is a promising candidate for the development of an anti-T. cruzi DNA vaccine.     

表达H5亚型禽流感病毒HA基因和鸡IL-18基因重组禽痘病毒的构建

[目的]获得共表达H5亚型AIV HA基因和鸡IL-18基因的重组禽痘病毒.[方法]将含痘病毒启动子LP2EP2的HA基因和鸡IL-18基因插入到禽痘病毒转移载体pSY681中,获得重组转移载体pSYHA/IL-18.用脂质体将其转染已感染亲本禽痘病毒S-FPV-017株的鸡胚成纤维细胞,使其在鸡胚成纤维细胞内与禽痘病毒基因组发生同源重组,产生表达HA和IL-18的重组禽痘病毒(rFPV-HA-IL-18).在含有X-gal的营养琼脂培养基上进行蓝斑筛选后,对重组禽痘病毒又进行了多次蚀斑克隆.[结果]以重组禽痘病毒DNA为模板,利用HA基因和鸡IL-18基因引物进行PCR,分别扩增出1条约1.7 kb带和1条0.6 kb左右的带.以间接免疫荧光试验、T细胞转化试验和SPF雏鸡免疫接种证实重组禽痘病毒能表达HA和鸡IL-18,并初步证明鸡IL-18增强HA免疫作用.[结论]重组禽痘病毒能表达具有生物学活性的HA和鸡IL-18.     

Low-dose oral immunization with lyophilized tissue of herbicide-resistant lettuce expressing hepatitis B surface antigen for prototype plant-derived vaccine tablet formulation

Efficient immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other pathogens with plant-based oral vaccines requires appropriate plant expressors and the optimization of vaccine compositions and administration protocols. Previous immunization studies were mainly based on a combination of the injection of a small surface antigen of HBV (S-HBsAg) and the feeding with raw tissue containing the antigen, supplemented with an adjuvant, and coming from plants conferring resistance to kanamycin. The objective of this study was to develop a prototype oral vaccine formula suitable for human immunization. Herbicide-resistant lettuce was engineered, stably expressing through progeny generation micrograms of S-HBsAg per g of fresh weight and formed into virus-like particles (VLPs). Lyophilized tissue containing a relatively low, 100-ng VLP-assembled antigen dose, administered only orally to mice with a long, 60-day interval between prime and boost immunizations and without exogenous adjuvant, elicited mucosal and systemic humoral anti-HBs responses at the nominally protective level. Lyophilized tissue was converted into tablets, which preserved S-HBsAg content for at least one year of room temperature storage. The results of the study provide indications on immunization methodology using a durable, efficacious, and convenient plant-derived prototype oral vaccine against hepatitis B.     

基于rV270抗原的鼠疫多孔微球疫苗的制备及其免疫保护作用评价

目的：评价生物可降解高分子材料多孔微球作为鼠疫亚单位疫苗佐剂的可行性。方法：制备可生物降解的高分子材料多孔微球,将rV270抗原蛋白吸附到多孔微球中制备微球疫苗,肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,初次免疫后21d加强免疫1次,于初次免疫后第10周用600LD50鼠疫耶尔森氏菌攻毒,攻毒后观察14d。结果：攻毒后,微球疫苗免疫的小鼠全部存活,且健康状况良好,对照组小鼠几乎全部死亡。结论：生物可降解多孔微球可作为免疫佐剂用于鼠疫亚单位疫苗研制。     

Toxoplasma gondii: chimeric Dr fimbriae as a recombinant vaccine against toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii is responsible for fetopathy in farm animals and humans and severe disease in immunocompromised individuals (i.e. AIDS patients). Effective vaccines, inducing protective and long-lasting immunity to this global parasite, are still desired. In the work, we evaluated the immunogenic and immunoprotective activity of Escherichia coli chimeric Dr fimbriae bearing selected antigenic epitopes of three T. gondii antigens (SAG1, GRA1 and MAG1), in comparison with conventional recombinant antigens obtained in E. coli expression system. Our data demonstrate a very high protective efficacy of recombinant antigens supplemented with Freund's adjuvants, whereas chimeric Dr fimbriae as a vaccine proved non-protective. The recombinant antigen vaccine induced a strong specific antibody response and prevented the brain cysts formation by 89%. The results are promising and should be confirmed in further study on farm animals by use of less aggressive than Freund's adjuvant preparations.     

Comparative clinical trial of vaccines against avian influenza

Scientic-production association "Microgen" has finished 1st phase of clinical trials of candidate vaccines against avian influenza in order to assess their reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity. Two vaccines constructed from NIBRG-14 vaccine strain [A/Vietnam/1 194/2004 (H5N1)], obtained from World Health Organization, were studied: "OrniFlu" (inactivated subunit influenza vaccine adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide) and inactivated polymer-subunit influenza vaccine with polyoxydonium (IPSIV). Clinical trial of the vaccines with different quantity of antigen (15, 30, and 45 mcg of H5N1 virus hemagglutinin) was carried out in Influenza Research Institute (St. Petersburg) and in Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera (Moscow). Analysis of results allowed to conclude that both vaccines were safe, well tolerated and characterized by low reactogenicity. Two-doses vaccination schedule was needed to meet required seroconversion and seroprotection rates (> or =1:40 in > or =70% of vaccinated volunteers). "Orni-Flu" vaccine containing 15 mcg of hemagglutinin and optimal quantity of aluminium hydroxide (0.5 mg) in one dose as well as IPSIV containing 45 mcg of hemagglutinin and 0.75 mg of polyoxydonium in one dose were most immunogenic after 2 doses - seroprotection rates in microneutralization assay were 72.2% and 77.0% respectively. Marked influence of aluminium hydroxide content on immunogenicity of the "OrniFlu" vaccine was confirmed in the study. Optimal quantity of adjuvant was 0.5 mg per dose. According to basic concept of vaccine development, preference is given to vaccine that under minimal quantity of antigen induces sufficient specific immune response and is safe in volunteers. "OrniFlu" vaccine containing 15 mcg of H5N1 virus hemagglutinin and optimal quantity of aluminium hydroxide (0.5 mg) corresponded to these requirements that allowed researchers to recommend it for clinical trials of 2nd phase.