Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Protects against 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Virus in Mice

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Fu-Shi Quan, Emory University; Aswani Vunnava, Emory University; Richard W Compans, Emory University; Sang-Moo Kang, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2010 Quan et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0009161
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS Biology
• ISSN: 1544-9173
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: e9161
• Grant/Funding Information: The project was supported by Award Numbers R01AI0680003 (R.W.C.), 3R01AI068003-04S1 (R.W.C.) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and partially by the fund from the Georgia Research Alliance (S.M.K.).
• Keywords: influenza virus; antibodies; influenza; immune response; antibody response; vaccination
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Biology, Virology; Biology, Microbiology

Abstract

Background: The 2009 influenza pandemic and shortages in vaccine supplies worldwide underscore the need for new approaches to develop more effective vaccines. Methodology/Principal Findings: We generated influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) containing proteins derived from the A/California/04/2009 virus, and tested their efficacy as a vaccine in mice. A single intramuscular vaccination with VLPs provided complete protection against lethal challenge with the A/California/04/2009 virus and partial protection against A/PR/8/1934 virus, an antigenically distant human isolate. VLP vaccination induced predominant IgG2a antibody responses, high hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers, and recall IgG and IgA antibody responses. HAI titers after VLP vaccination were equivalent to those observed after live virus infection. VLP immune sera also showed HAI responses against diverse geographic pandemic isolates. Notably, a low dose of VLPs could provide protection against lethal infection. Conclusion/Significance: This study demonstrates that VLP vaccination provides highly effective protection against the 2009 pandemic influenza virus. The results indicate that VLPs can be developed into an effective vaccine, which can be rapidly produced and avoid the need to isolate high growth reassortants for egg-based production.