Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
An influenza mRNA vaccine protects ferrets from lethal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. |
| Authors: |
Hatta, Masato, Hatta, Yasuko, Choi, Angela, Hossain, Jaber, Feng, Chenchen, Keller, Matthew W., Ritter, Jana M., Huang, Ying, Fang, Emma, Pusch, Elizabeth A., Rowe, Thomas, De La Cruz, Juan A., Johnson, Monique C., Liddell, Jimma, Jiang, Nannan, Stadlbauer, Daniel, Liu, Li, Bhattacharjee, Arindam K., Rouse, Joseph R., Currier, Michael |
| Source: |
Science Translational Medicine; 12/18/2024, Vol. 16 Issue 778, p1-12, 12p |
| Subject Terms: |
PANDEMIC preparedness, AVIAN influenza, HUMAN-to-human transmission, VACCINE effectiveness, ANTIBODY titer |
| Abstract: |
The global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus poses a serious pandemic threat, necessitating the swift development of effective vaccines. The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology in the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by its rapid development and scalability, demonstrates its potential for addressing other infectious threats, such as HPAI A(H5N1). We therefore evaluated mRNA vaccine candidates targeting panzootic influenza A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, which have been shown to infect a range of mammalian species, including most recently being detected in dairy cattle. Ferrets were immunized with mRNA vaccines encoding either hemagglutinin alone or hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, derived from a 2.3.4.4b prototype vaccine virus recommended by the World Health Organization. Kinetics of the immune responses, as well as protection against a lethal challenge dose of A(H5N1) virus, were assessed. Two doses of mRNA vaccination elicited robust neutralizing antibody titers against a 2022 avian isolate and a 2024 human isolate. Further, mRNA vaccination conferred protection from lethal challenge, whereas all unvaccinated ferrets succumbed to infection. It also reduced viral titers in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of infected ferrets. These results underscore the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against HPAI A(H5N1), showcasing their potential as a vaccine platform for future influenza pandemics. Editor's summary: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) continues to spread throughout domestic poultry and cattle, with occasional transmission to humans. Although human-to-human transmission has not yet been reported, steps need to be taken to prepare should that occur. Here, Hatta et al. report preclinical testing of mRNA-based vaccines against HPAI. The vaccines, which are based on A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, conferred protection in ferrets subsequently challenged with A(H5N1). Serum from vaccinated ferrets also neutralized an HPAI A(H5N1) isolate collected from an infected human in 2024. These data support further development of mRNA-based HPAI A(H5N1) as a means of pandemic preparedness. —Courtney Malo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Complementary Index |
