RESUMO
The outbreak of human infections with avian-origin H7N9 influenza has raised global concerns about a potential human pandemic. Therefore, the generation of simple and reliable newer vaccines is high priority for pandemic preparedness. In this study, we aimed to develop a recombinant vaccine by expressing HA of H7N9 (A/Shanghai/2/2013) on the surface of baculovirus (BacHA). Further, live or inactive form of BacHA (H7N9) vaccine was immunized twice either intranasally or subcutaneously into mice. The immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of the BacHA (H7N9) vaccine was assessed against H7N9 or H7N7 subtype challenge. The results showed that mice immunized subcutaneously with adjuvanted inactive BacHA (H7N9) induced robust cross-neutralizing antibody responses against H7 subtypes (H7N9, H7N7 and H7N3) compared to subcutaneous or intranasal immunization of live BacHA. In contrast, mice immunized intranasally with live BacHA stimulated higher HA-specific mucosal IgA levels in the upper airways, the port of virus entry. Also, intranasal immunization of BacHA of either H7N9 or H7N7 completely protected against 5 MLD50 of both H7N9 and H7N7 infections. An overall study revealed that intranasal administration of HA expressed on the baculovirus envelope is alternative way to prime the immune system against influenza infection during a pandemic situation.
Assuntos
Proteção Cruzada , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/imunologia , Subtipo H7N9 do Vírus da Influenza A/imunologia , Influenza Humana/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Baculoviridae/genética , Baculoviridae/metabolismo , Feminino , Vetores Genéticos/genética , Vetores Genéticos/metabolismo , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/administração & dosagem , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/genética , Humanos , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H7N3/imunologia , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H7N3/fisiologia , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H7N7/imunologia , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H7N7/fisiologia , Subtipo H7N9 do Vírus da Influenza A/genética , Subtipo H7N9 do Vírus da Influenza A/fisiologia , Influenza Humana/prevenção & controle , Influenza Humana/virologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB CRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children. It is often associated with severe neurological diseases and mortalities in recent outbreaks across the Asia Pacific region. Currently, there is no efficient universal antibody test available to detect EV71 infections. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: In the present study, an epitope-blocking ELISA was developed to detect specific antibodies to human EV71 viruses in human or animal sera. The assay relies on a novel monoclonal antibody (Mab 1C6) that specifically binds to capsid proteins in whole EV71 viruses without any cross reaction to any EV71 capsid protein expressed alone. The sensitivity and specificity of the epitope-blocking ELISA for EV71 was evaluated and compared to microneutralization using immunized animal sera to multiple virus genotypes of EV71 and coxsackieviruses. Further, 200 serum sample from human individuals who were potentially infected with EV71 viruses were tested in both the blocking ELISA and microneutralization. Results indicated that antibodies to EV71 were readily detected in immunized animals or human sera by the epitope blocking ELISA whereas specimens with antibodies to other enteroviruses yielded negative results. This assay is not only simpler to perform but also shows higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to microneutralization. CONCLUSION: The epitope-blocking ELISA based on a unique Mab 1C6 provided highly sensitive and 100% specific detection of antibodies to human EV71 viruses in human sera.