A recombinant protein containing influenza viral conserved epitopes and superantigen induces broad-spectrum protection
Yansheng Li,
Mingkai Xu,
Yongqiang Li,
Wu Gu,
Gulinare Halimu,
Yuqi Li,
Zhichun Zhang,
Libao Zhou,
Hui Liao,
Songyuan Yao,
Huiwen Zhang,
Chenggang Zhang
Affiliations
Yansheng Li
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Yongqiang Li
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Wu Gu
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Gulinare Halimu
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Yuqi Li
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Zhichun Zhang
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Libao Zhou
Chengda Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Liaoning, China
Hui Liao
Chengda Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Liaoning, China
Songyuan Yao
Chengda Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Liaoning, China
Huiwen Zhang
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Chenggang Zhang
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Superantigen Research, Shenyang Bureau of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China
Influenza pandemics pose public health threats annually for lacking vaccine that provides cross-protection against novel and emerging influenza viruses. Combining conserved antigens that induce cross-protective antibody responses with epitopes that activate cross-protective T cell responses might be an attractive strategy for developing a universal vaccine. In this study, we constructed a recombinant protein named NMHC that consists of influenza viral conserved epitopes and a superantigen fragment. NMHC promoted the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and induced CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Th1, Th2, and Th17 subtypes. Mice vaccinated with NMHC produced high levels of immunoglobulins that cross-bound to HA fragments from six influenza virus subtypes with high antibody titers. Anti-NMHC serum showed potent hemagglutinin inhibition effects to highly divergent group 1 (H1 subtype) and group 2 (H3 subtype) influenza virus strains. Furthermore, purified anti-NMHC antibodies bound to multiple HAs with high affinities. NMHC vaccination effectively protected mice from infection and lung damage when exposed to two subtypes of H1N1 influenza virus. Moreover, NMHC vaccination elicited CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that cleared the virus from infected tissues and prevented virus spread. In conclusion, this study provides proof of concept that NMHC vaccination triggers B and T cell immune responses against multiple influenza virus infections. Therefore, NMHC might be a candidate universal broad-spectrum vaccine for the prevention and treatment of multiple influenza viruses.
