Universal influenza A M2e-HBc vaccine protects against disease even in the presence of pre-existing anti-HBc antibodies

Vaccine. 2008 Dec 2;26(51):6503-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.09.038.

Abstract

The extracellular domain of influenza A virus matrix protein 2 (M2e) is strongly conserved. Therefore, vaccines based on M2e can induce broad-spectrum immunity against influenza. We have mainly used recombinant virus-like particles derived from Hepatitis B virus core (HBc) as carrier for efficacious presentation of the M2e antigen. Here, we address whether pre-existing HBc-specific immunity interferes with the protective immune response obtained by M2e-HBc vaccination. Anti-HBc antibodies were induced by immunizing mice with unsubstituted HBc virus-like particles in the presence of two different adjuvants. We demonstrate that pre-existing HBc-specific antibodies affect neither the induction of M2e-specific antibody responses to vaccination with M2e-HBc particles, nor the protective efficacy of the resulting response. These results suggest that vaccination with M2e-HBc can induce protective anti-M2e antibodies even in anti-HBc positive individuals. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of the clinical development of an M2e-based universal influenza vaccine, which recently successfully completed a Phase I trial.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Lung / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Load
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • M2 protein, Influenza A virus
  • M2e-HBc influenza vaccine
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Viral Matrix Proteins