A Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1-Derived Influenza Vaccine Induces Balanced Adaptive Immune Responses and Protects Mice From Lethal Influenza Virus Challenge

Authors

• Paul J F Rider, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Harrison Dulin, University of California Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Riverside, CA
• Ifeanyi K. Uche, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Michael C. McGee, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Weishan Huang, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
• Rong Hai, University of California Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Riverside, CA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-21-2024

Publication Title

Journal of Medical Virology

Abstract

Influenza virus is a major respiratory viral pathogen responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands worldwide each year. Current vaccines provide protection primarily by inducing strain-specific antibody responses with the requirement of a match between vaccine strains and circulating strains. It has been suggested that anti-influenza T-cell responses, in addition to antibody responses may provide the broadest protection against different flu strains. Therefore, to address this urgent need, it is desirable to develop a vaccine candidate with an ability to induce balanced adaptive immunity including cell mediated immune responses. Here, we explored the potential of VC2, a well-characterized Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 vaccine vector, as a live attenuated influenza vaccine candidate. We generated a recombinant VC2 virus expressing the influenza A hemagglutinin protein. We show that this virus is capable of generating potent and specific anti-influenza humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. We further show that a single vaccination with the VC2-derived influenza vaccine protects mice from lethal challenge with influenza virus. Our data support the continued development of VC2-derived influenza vaccines for protection of human populations from both seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza. Finally, our results support the potential of VC2-derived vaccines as a platform for the rapid development of vaccines against emerging and established pathogens, particularly respiratory pathogens.

First Page

1

Last Page

11

DOI

10.1002/jmv.70067

Rights

© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Recommended Citation

Rider, Paul J F; Dulin, Harrison; Uche, Ifeanyi K.; McGee, Michael C.; Huang, Weishan; Kousoulas, Konstantin G.; and Hai, Rong, "A Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1-Derived Influenza Vaccine Induces Balanced Adaptive Immune Responses and Protects Mice From Lethal Influenza Virus Challenge" (2024). LSU-LCMC Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 88.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/llcc_facpubs/88
10.1002/jmv.70067