Rapid generation of pandemic influenza virus vaccine candidate strains using synthetic DNA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vaccination is considered the most effective means of reducing influenza burden. The emergence of H5N1 and pandemic spread of novel H1N1/2009 viruses reinforces the need to have strategies in place to rapidly develop seed viruses for vaccine manufacture.

Methods

Candidate pandemic vaccine strains consisting of the circulating strain haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) in an A/PR/8/34 backbone were generated using alternative synthetic DNA approaches, including site-directed mutagenesis of DNA encoding related virus strains, and rapid generation of virus using synthetic DNA cloned into plasmid vectors.

Results

Firstly, synthetic A/Bar Headed Goose/Qinghai/1A/2005 (H5N1) virus was generated from an A/Vietnam/1194/2004 template using site-directed mutag

SUBMITTER: Verity EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4942080 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature