Structure-guided loop grafting improves expression and stability of influenza neuraminidase for vaccine development.

ABSTRACT: Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) is a crucial target for protective antibodies, yet the development of recombinant NA protein as a vaccine has been held back by instability and variable expression. We have taken a pragmatic approach to improving expression and stability of NA by grafting antigenic surface loops from low-expressing NA proteins onto the scaffold of high-expressing counterparts. The resulting hybrid proteins retained the antigenic properties of the loop donor while benefiting from the high-yield expression, stability, and tetrameric structure of the loop recipient. These hybrid proteins were recognised by a broad set of human monoclonal antibodies elicited by influenza infection or vaccination, with X-ray structures validating the accurate structural conformation of the gra

SUBMITTER: Rijal P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12419796 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature