Crossprotection Induced by Virus-Like Particles Containing Influenza Dual-Hemagglutinin and M2 Ectodomain

Abstract

Aims: To develop an effective universal vaccine against antigenically different influenza viruses. Materials & methods: We generated influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing the H1 and H3 antigens with or without M2e5x. VLP-induced immune responses and crossprotection against H1N1, H3N2 or H5N1 viruses were assessed to evaluate their protective efficacy. Results: H1H3M2e5x immunization elicited higher crossreactive IgG antibodies than H1H3 VLPs. Upon challenge, both VLPs enhanced lung IgG, IgA and germinal center B-cell responses compared with control. While these VLPs conferred protection, H1H3M2e5x showed greater lung viral load reduction than H1H3 VLPs with minimal body weight loss. Conclusion: Utilizing VLPs containing dual-hemagglutinin, along with M2e5x, can be a vaccination strategy for inducing crossprotection against influenza A viruses.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: :

• hemagglutinin
• influenza virus
• M2e5x
• universal vaccine
• virus-like particles

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: wwww.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2023-0353

Author contributions

J Mao: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, software and writing (original draft preparation). G-D Eom: data curation, software, formal analysis and investigation. K-W Yoon: software, validation and visualization. M-J Kim: data curation and methodology. K-B Chu: investigation and writing (review and editing). H-J Kang: supervision and investigation. F-S Quan: conceptualization, project administration, funding acquisition, supervision, resources and writing (review and editing).

Financial disclosure

This work was supported by the Core Research Institute (CRI) Program, the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Education (grant No. NRF-2018-R1A6A1A03025124) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant No. HV20C0085). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

Animal experimental procedures were approved and conducted according to the Kyung Hee University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines (permit No. KHUASP-20-604).