Inserting CTL Epitopes of the Viral Nucleoprotein to Improve Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Recombinant Protein against Influenza A Virus.

ABSTRACT: Conserved influenza virus proteins, such as the hemagglutinin stem domain (HA2), nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix protein (M), are the main targets in the development of universal influenza vaccines. Previously, we constructed a recombinant vaccine protein Flg-HA2-2-4M2ehs containing the extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e) and the aa76-130 sequence of the second HA subunit as target antigens. It demonstrated immunogenicity and broad protection against influenza A viruses after intranasal and parenteral administration. This study shows that CD8+ epitopes of NP, inserted into a flagellin-fused protein carrying M2e and HA2, affect the post-vaccination immune humoral response to virus antigens without reducing protection. No differences were found between the two proteins in their abili

SUBMITTER: Shuklina M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11505154 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature