Prevention of infection of influenza virus in DQ6 mice, a human model, by a peptide vaccine prepared according to the cassette theory

Influenza virus inhibits amiloride-sensitive Na+channels in respiratory epithelia

“…Given that the concentration range over which influenza virus inhibits epithelial Na ϩ channels (Fig. 1e) is 10-to 1,000-fold lower than the viral concentrations measured in the nasal turbinates and lungs of mice infected for 3-4 days with influenza (38)(39)(40)(41) and the role of these channels in controlling the amount of fluid in the respiratory tract (4,42), the present findings provide an explanation for the accumulation of fluid in the respiratory tract that is a feature of influenza infections (11,(13)(14)(15)(16). The role of epithelial Na ϩ channels in maintaining the middle ear cavities free of fluid (43,44) suggests that downregulation of Na ϩ channel activity may also underlie the known association between influenza infections and otitis media (11,45).…”

Respiratory Viral Vaccines

“…Since respiratory infection by influenza induces both humoral and mucosal antibody as well as cross-reactive cellmediated immunity (CMI), it is widely believed, although not proven, that vaccine efficacy will be improved through nasal administration. A number of nasal vaccine strategies are under investigation, including the use of live attenuated strains (Bradshaw and Wright, 2002;Belshe, 1999;Gruber et al, 1996;Murphy, 1993); recombinant (Berglund et al, 1999;Ferko et al, 1998;Watanabe et al, 2002), virosomal (Cusi et al, 2000), DNA (Ljungberg et al, 2002;Ban et al, 1997), peptide (Matsuki et al, 1999;Yedidia et al, 1998;Jeon and Arnon, 2002), and purified subunit vaccines (Barchfield et al, 1999;Asanuma et al, 2001;Saurwein-Teissl et al, 1998); and immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs) (Sjölander et al, 2001;Sjölander et al, 1997).…”