Evaluation of replication and cross-reactive antibody responses of H2 subtype influenza viruses in mice and ferrets

J Virol. 2010 Aug;84(15):7695-702. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00511-10. Epub 2010 May 26.

Abstract

H2 influenza viruses have not circulated in humans since 1968, and therefore a large segment of the population would likely be susceptible to infection should H2 influenza viruses reemerge. The development of an H2 pandemic influenza virus vaccine candidate should therefore be considered a priority in pandemic influenza preparedness planning. We selected a group of geographically and temporally diverse wild-type H2 influenza viruses and evaluated the kinetics of replication and compared the ability of these viruses to induce a broadly cross-reactive antibody response in mice and ferrets. In both mice and ferrets, A/Japan/305/1957 (H2N2), A/mallard/NY/1978 (H2N2), and A/swine/MO/2006 (H2N3) elicited the broadest cross-reactive antibody responses against heterologous H2 influenza viruses as measured by hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization assays. These data suggested that these three viruses may be suitable candidates for development as live attenuated H2 pandemic influenza virus vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Female
  • Ferrets
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
  • Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / growth & development
  • Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / growth & development*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutralization Tests

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral