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A “universal” vaccine for influenza A virus (IAV) is a high priority to protect against seasonal epidemics and for pandemic preparedness.
Here, Park et al. developed a multivalent, inactivated whole-virus vaccine for IAV.
The vaccine included four IAV subtypes that conferred protection against multiple antigenically distinct and fully heterosubtypic IAV strains in mice and ferrets.
Vaccines that broadly protect against all such IAVs, so-called “universal” influenza vaccines, do not currently exist but are urgently needed.
Here, we demonstrated that an inactivated, multivalent whole-virus vaccine, delivered intramuscularly or intranasally, was broadly protective against challenges with multiple IAV hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes in both mice and ferrets.
The vaccine is composed of four β-propiolactone–inactivated low-pathogenicity avian IAV subtypes of H1N9, H3N8, H5N1, and H7N3.
We also observed protection against challenge with antigenically variable and heterosubtypic avian, swine, and human viruses.
Compared to control animals, vaccinated mice and ferrets demonstrated marked reductions in viral titers, lung pathology, and host inflammatory responses.
This vaccine approach indicates the feasibility of eliciting broad, heterosubtypic IAV protection and identifies a promising candidate for influenza vaccine clinical development.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scit...ed.abo2167
Here, Park et al. developed a multivalent, inactivated whole-virus vaccine for IAV.
The vaccine included four IAV subtypes that conferred protection against multiple antigenically distinct and fully heterosubtypic IAV strains in mice and ferrets.
Vaccines that broadly protect against all such IAVs, so-called “universal” influenza vaccines, do not currently exist but are urgently needed.
Here, we demonstrated that an inactivated, multivalent whole-virus vaccine, delivered intramuscularly or intranasally, was broadly protective against challenges with multiple IAV hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes in both mice and ferrets.
The vaccine is composed of four β-propiolactone–inactivated low-pathogenicity avian IAV subtypes of H1N9, H3N8, H5N1, and H7N3.
We also observed protection against challenge with antigenically variable and heterosubtypic avian, swine, and human viruses.
Compared to control animals, vaccinated mice and ferrets demonstrated marked reductions in viral titers, lung pathology, and host inflammatory responses.
This vaccine approach indicates the feasibility of eliciting broad, heterosubtypic IAV protection and identifies a promising candidate for influenza vaccine clinical development.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scit...ed.abo2167
