Antigenic and genetic analysis of H5 influenza viruses isolated from water birds for the purpose of vaccine use.

In order to prepare H5N1 influenza virus vaccine, the hemagglutinins (HAs) of 14 H5 virus isolates from water birds in Asia were antigenically and genetically analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of the H5 HA genes revealed that 13 isolates belong to Eurasian and the other one to North American lineages. Each of the deduced amino acid sequences of the HAs indicated a non-pathogenic profile. Antigenic analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing six different epitopes on the HA of A/duck/Pennsylvania/10218/1984 (H5N2) and chicken antiserum to an H5N1 reassortant strain generated between A/duck/Mongolia/54/2001 (H5N2) and A/duck/Mongolia/47/2001 (H7N1), [R(Dk/Mong-Dk/Mong) (H5N1)] showed that the HAs of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses currently circulating in Asia were antigenically closely related to those of the present isolates from water birds. Mice subcutaneously injected with formalin-inactivated R(Dk/Mong-Dk/Mong) were protected from challenge with 100 mouse lethal dose of A/Viet Nam/1194/2004 (H5N1). The present results support the notion that the H5 isolates and the reassortant H5N1 strain should be useful for vaccine preparation.

Development of vaccine strains of H5 and H7 influenza viruses.

To establish vaccine strains of H5 and H7 influenza viruses, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/04 (H5N1) [Vac-1/04 (H5N1)], A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-3/07 (H5N1) [Vac-3/07 (H5N1)], and A/duck/Hokkaido/ Vac-2/04 (H7N7) [Vac-2/04 (H7N7)] were generated from non-pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from migratory ducks. Vac-1/04 (H5N1) and Vac-3/07 (H5N1) were generated by genetic reassortment between H5N2 or H5N3 virus as an HA gene provider and H7N1 or H6N1 viruses as an NA gene provider. Vac-2/04 (H7N7) was a genetic reassortant obtained using H7N7 and H9 N2 viruses to give high growth character of the H9N2 virus in chicken embryonated eggs. The results of sequence analyses and experimental infections revealed that these H5N1 and H7N7 reassortant viruses were non-pathogenic in chickens and embryos, and had good growth potential in embryonated eggs. These viruses should be useful to develop vaccines against H5 and H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

A vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H7N7 virus isolated from natural reservoir conferred protective immunity against the challenge with lethal dose of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in chickens.

During 2001-2004, 41 H7 influenza viruses (2 H7N1 and 39 H7N7 strains) were isolated from fecal samples of migratory ducks that flew from Siberia in the autumn of each year to Japan and Mongolia. A phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the nine representative isolates revealed that they belonged to the Eurasian lineage and the deduced amino acid sequence at the cleavage site of the HAs represented apathogenic profiles. One of the H7 isolates A/duck/Mongolia/736/02 (H7N7) was chosen from these H7 isolates for the preparation of the test vaccine. To improve the growth potential of A/duck/Mongolia/736/02 (H7N7) in chicken embryos, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-2/04 (H7N7) was generated by genetic reassortment between A/duck/Mongolia/736/02 (H7N7) as the donor of the PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NA, and NS genes and A/duck/Hokkaido/49/98 (H9N2) as that of NP and M genes. The test vaccine was prepared as follows; A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-2/04 (H7N7) was propagated in chicken embryos and the virus in the allantoic fluid was inactivated and adjuvanted to form an oil-in-water emulsion. The test vaccine conferred immunity to chickens, completely protecting the manifestation of clinical signs against the challenge with lethal dose of H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. These results indicate that influenza viruses isolated from natural reservoirs are useful for vaccine strains.