Progress towards the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine

Abstract

Influenza viruses are responsible for millions of cases globally and significantly threaten public health. Since pandemic and zoonotic influenza viruses have emerged in the last 20 years and some of the viruses have resulted in high mortality in humans, a universal influenza vaccine is needed to provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of influenza viruses. Current seasonal influenza vaccines provide strain-specific protection and are less effective against mismatched strains. The rapid antigenic drift and shift in influenza viruses resulted in time-consuming surveillance and uncertainty in the vaccine protection efficacy. Most recent universal influenza vaccine studies target the conserved antigen domains of the viral surface glycoproteins and internal proteins to provide broader protection. Following the development of advanced vaccine technologies, several innovative strategies and vaccine platforms are being explored to generate robust cross-protective immunity. This review provides the latest progress in the development of universal influenza vaccines.

Single-Component Multilayered Self-Assembling Protein Nanoparticles Displaying Extracellular Domains of Matrix Protein 2 as a Pan-influenza A Vaccine

“…Therefore, unlike the inactivated PR8 (H1N1) group, two immunizations with M2e SApNP followed by an H1N1 challenge may have enhanced the protection against a heterosubtypic H3N2 challenge. Overall, our results suggest that the adjuvanted M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP can be developed into an effective, pan-influenza A vaccine that may overcome the limitations of currently marketed influenza vaccines, including the lack of protection against antigenically drifted seasonal or novel pandemic strains . Furthermore, we also assessed our lead vaccine candidate, M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP, in a single low-dose formulation with potent adjuvants.…”

“…Overall, our results suggest that the adjuvanted M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP can be developed into an effective, pan-influenza A vaccine that may overcome the limitations of currently marketed influenza vaccines, including the lack of protection against antigenically drifted seasonal or novel pandemic strains. 111 Furthermore, we also assessed our lead vaccine candidate, M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP, in a single low-dose formulation with potent adjuvants. Both CpG and MIW815 103 were found to significantly improve protection from lethal influenza A challenge compared to a conventional adjuvant, AP.…”

Single-component multilayered self-assembling protein nanoparticles displaying extracellular domains of matrix protein 2 as a pan-influenza A vaccine

“…Therefore, unlike the inactivated PR8 (H1N1) group, immunizations with M2e SApNP followed by an H1N1 challenge may enhance protection against heterosubtypic H3N2, addressing a major limitation of seasonal inactivated vaccines, which offer mostly strain-specific protection. Overall, our results suggest that the adjuvanted M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP can be developed into an effective, cross-protective influenza vaccine that may overcome the limitations of currently marketed influenza vaccines, including the lack of protection against antigenically drifted seasonal or novel pandemic strains (111). Furthermore, we also assessed our lead vaccine candidate, M2ex3 I3-01v9a SApNP, in a single, low-dose formulation with potent adjuvants.…”

Broadly Protective Neuraminidase-Based Influenza Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies: Target Epitopes and Mechanisms of Action

“…Additionally, a recent study has reported that computationally engineered recombinant NA proteins containing consensus sequences show broad protection within the H1N1 subtype in mice [ 91 ]. Nucleic acid-based vaccines are also a potential strategy for an influenza vaccine [ 92 ]. This method depends on expressing the target antigen in vivo following vaccination with a plasmid encoding for the gene of interest [ 93 ].…”