Review
Oncology
William J. Liu, Haixia Xiao, Lianpan Dai, Di Liu, Jianjun Chen, Xiaopeng Qi, Yuhai Bi, Yi Shi, George F. Gao, Yingxia Liu
Summary: Avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, closely associated with live poultry markets, has caused infections in humans in China since 2013. Five waves of the epidemic occurred between 2013 and 2017, with the emergence of highly pathogenic strains causing concern. Rapid response and control by specialists and officials utilized new technologies and surveillance tools. Characteristics of the virus were reviewed from multiple perspectives to provide tools for reducing future threats from H7N9 and other viruses.
FRONTIERS OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Leonard Moise, Lauren M. Meyers, Hyesun Jang, Mayara Grizotte-Lake, Christine M. Boyle, Bethany McGonnigal, Pan Ge, Ted M. Ross, Anne S. De Groot
Summary: Strategies to enhance immunogenicity of influenza vaccines are crucial for pandemic preparedness. A study showed that incorporating a memory CD4(+) T cell epitope from H3N2 into H7N9 HA can improve immune response and antibody production.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Wentao Shen, Qian Wang, Zhengxiang Wang, Minxuan Liu, Yingying Du, Lvfeng Yuan, Lu Han, Krzysztof Smietanka, Hualan Chen, Shuai Xu, Qiyun Zhu
Summary: The H7N9 subtype influenza A viruses pose a serious threat to public health, and there is still a lack of vaccines or drugs for humans against H7N9 influenza viruses. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4H1E8 and 7H9A6, were identified to specifically recognize and neutralize the H7N9 virus. These antibodies inhibit the conformational change of HA and block the HA-mediated membrane fusion, showing promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects against H7N9 virus infection. These findings suggest that these antibodies could be potentially used for the prevention and treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Cindy Hoerner, Anna H. Fiedler, Bianca S. Bodmer, Lisa Walz, Vivian A. Scheuplein, Stefan Hutzler, Mikhail N. Matrosovich, Veronika von Messling, Michael D. Muehlebach
Summary: A novel Influenza A virus (subtype H7N9) emerged in 2013 and caused significant mortality in infected patients. Recombinant measles virus (MeV) encoding H7 or N9 antigens were generated as potential vaccines. Immunization with these vaccines induced antibody and T cell response and provided protection against lethal H7N9 challenge.
Article
Cell Biology
Qi Wen Teo, Yiquan Wang, Huibin Lv, Timothy J. C. Tan, Ruipeng Lei, Kevin J. Mao, Nicholas C. Wu
Summary: This study reveals the importance of light-chain and CDR H3 sequences for the HA stem specificity of IGHV1-69 antibodies, providing molecular insights into broadly neutralizing antibody responses to influenza virus and important implications for universal influenza vaccine development.
Article
Microbiology
Jun Li, Rumeng Li, Qi Zhang, Peipei Peng, Xiaoquan Wang, Min Gu, Zenglei Hu, Xinan Jiao, Daxin Peng, Jiao Hu, Xiufan Liu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the H7N9 VLP vaccine provides complete clinical protection against HP H7N9 virus, significantly inhibits virus shedding, and abolishes viral replication in chickens. The VLP vaccine represents a promising alternative strategy for the development of novel H7N9 avian influenza vaccines for chickens.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Christopher L. D. McMillan, Paul R. Young, Daniel Watterson, Keith J. Chappell
Summary: Current influenza virus vaccines mainly induce antibodies against the highly variable head domain of the hemagglutinin protein, but these antibodies are often strain-specific, resulting in limited cross-protection. Therefore, the annual update of vaccine formulations to counteract the challenge of influenza virus evolution is crucial.
Article
Microbiology
Xuejie Liu, Tianyi Zhao, Liangliang Wang, Minchao Li, Caijun Sun, Yuelong Shu
Summary: This study optimized the HA sequences of seasonal influenza viruses and designed a mosaic vaccine to enhance T-cell response. The results showed the potential of the recombinant mosaic antigen as an effective immunogen and provided a strategy for improving human protection against seasonal influenza virus.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Peter Radvak, Martina Kosikova, Yuan-Chia Kuo, Xing Li, Richard Garner, Falko Schmeisser, Ivan Kosik, Zhiping Ye, Jerry P. Weir, Jonathan W. Yewdell, Hang Xie
Summary: The study evaluated the immunogenicity and protection efficacy of a vaccine extracted from highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, and found that GD/16 eHA has good immunogenicity and protection effect, which can improve the immunogenicity and protection of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Iuliia M. Gilchuk, Sandhya Bangaru, Nurgun Kose, Robin G. Bombardi, Andrew Trivette, Sheng Li, Hannah L. Turner, Robert H. Carnahan, Andrew B. Ward, James E. Crowe Jr
Summary: This study examined the B cell response to H7 HA in individuals who had recovered from natural H7N9 virus infection. Circulating H7-reactive B cells were found to recognize a diverse antigenic landscape on the HA molecule and exhibit broad recognition of unrelated H7 strains. Functional testing of the antibodies revealed diverse patterns of inhibition, including neutralizing and HA trimer-disrupting activities.
Review
Immunology
Rina Fajri Nuwarda, Abdulsalam Abdullah Alharbi, Veysel Kayser
Summary: Influenza is a major public health concern, and vaccines are an effective method for prevention and control. New vaccine platforms and advancements in vaccine manufacturing processes are being explored to improve effectiveness and stability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daria Mezhenskaya, Irina Isakova-Sivak, Tatiana Kotomina, Victoria Matyushenko, Min-Chul Kim, Noopur Bhatnagar, Ki-Hye Kim, Sang-Moo Kang, Larisa Rudenko
Summary: Influenza viruses remain a serious public health problem, with seasonal influenza vaccines showing low effectiveness against drifted and new viruses. Research is ongoing to develop strategies to elicit immune responses against conserved parts of influenza virus proteins. A study constructing a universal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) candidate with enhanced breadth of protection showed promising results in increasing protection against heterosubtypic challenge viruses compared to classical LAIV. Further investigation in pre-clinical and clinical trials is warranted.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yanan Sheng, Jiangxue Wei, Zhengjun Li, Zhiguo Su, Guanghui Ma, Songping Zhang
Summary: In this study, ferritin nanoparticles were used as a carrier for influenza vaccine by chemically conjugating M2e and HA antigens on the outer surface. The dual-antigen vaccine candidate showed high levels of antigen-specific antibodies in immunized mice and provided effective protection against both homologous and heterologous influenza virus strains.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brianna L. Bullard, Brigette N. Corder, Jennifer DeBeauchamp, Adam Rubrum, Bette Korber, Richard J. Webby, Eric A. Weaver
Summary: In this study, a universal swine H3 influenza vaccine was designed using a computational algorithm, which showed significant cross-reactive antibody and T-cell responses in both murine and swine models. The vaccine demonstrated superior cross-reactive immunity and reduced weight loss and lung viral titers in mice challenged with different swH3 viruses. The findings suggest that this epigraph vaccination strategy should be further investigated as a potential universal swH3 vaccine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sphamandla E. Mtambo, Samuel C. Ugbaja, Aganze G. Mushebenge, Bahijjahtu H. Abubakar, Mthobisi L. Ntuli, Hezekiel M. Kumalo
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism and dynamics of the E119V mutation on the peramivir-neuraminidase complex of the H7N9 virus. Molecular dynamic simulations and analysis reveal that the E119V substitution confers greater stability on the protein complex. This research provides valuable insights for future drug design and control of avian influenza.
Article
Virology
Jessica A. Belser, Adam Johnson, Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza, Claudia Pappas, Melissa B. Pearce, Wen -Pin Tzeng, M. Jaber Hossain, Callie Ridenour, Li Wang, Li-Mei Chen, David E. Wentworth, Jacqueline M. Katz, Taronna R. Maines, Terrence M. Tumpey
Article
Virology
Jessica A. Belser, Xiangjie Sun, Hannah M. Creager, Adam Johnson, Callie Ridenour, Li-Mei Chen, Terrence M. Tumpey, Taronna R. Maines
Correction
Genetics & Heredity
Taejoong Kim, Henry D. Hunt, Mark S. Parcells, Vicky van Santen, Sandra J. Ewald
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Taejoong Kim, Henry D. Hunt, Mark S. Parcells, Vicky van Santen, Sandra J. Ewald
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Stephen J. Spatz, Maricarmen Garcia, Sylva Riblet, Teresa A. Ross, Jeremy D. Volkening, Tonya L. Taylor, Taejoong Kim, Claudio L. Afonso
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Taejoong Kim, Stephen J. Spatz, John R. Dunn
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Widaliz Vega-Rodriguez, Huai Xu, Nagendraprabhu Ponnuraj, Haji Akbar, Taejoong Kim, Keith William Jarosinski
Summary: The study demonstrates the essential role of glycoprotein C (gC) of Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 in interindividual spread in chickens, and suggests the conservation of this function in other alphaherpesviruses. By manipulating the gC gene in the MD vaccine strain 301B/1, researchers confirmed its importance for interindividual spread through experimental and natural infection studies. Replacement of 301B/1 gC with MDV gC also resulted in efficient spread, indicating the conserved role of alphaherpesvirus gC proteins and their potential in future vaccine development against Marek's disease.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alec Steep, Evin Hildebrandt, Hongen Xu, Cari Hearn, Dmitrij Frishman, Masahiro Niikura, John R. Dunn, Taejoong Kim, Steven J. Conrad, William M. Muir, Hans H. Cheng
Summary: The study revealed the existence of potential cancer driver genes in the chicken genome, with Ikaros being a key example. Somatic mutations in key Zn-finger DNA-binding domains of Ikaros play a role in the process of MDV-induced lymphomas.
Article
Virology
Andrea Krieter, Huai Xu, Haji Akbar, Taejoong Kim, Keith William Jarosinski
Summary: The conserved herpesvirus protein kinase (CHPK) has been identified as essential for the horizontal transmission of Marek's disease virus (MDV). This study confirms the importance of CHPK activity in the horizontal spread of Gallid alphaherpesvirus 3 (GaHV3) and suggests that avian CHPKs play a conserved role in natural infection.
Article
Immunology
Huai Xu, Andrea L. Krieter, Nagendraprabhu Ponnuraj, Yvette (Yung-Tien) Tien, Taejoong Kim, Keith W. Jarosinski
Summary: Functional complementation between vaccines and virulent viruses has been observed, suggesting it as a potential mechanism for vaccine-mediated viral evolution. This phenomenon should be considered during the development of novel vaccines.
Article
Microbiology
Fatma Eldemery, Changbo Ou, Taejoong Kim, Stephen Spatz, John Dunn, Robert Silva, Qingzhong Yu
Summary: In this study, the codon pair deoptimization (CPD) approach was used to attenuate the NDV LS vaccine strain for in ovo vaccination. However, the current level of suboptimal codon substitutions was not sufficient to sufficiently attenuate the virus. Optimization of more codons or additional genes may be required for sufficient attenuation.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Stephen Spatz, Maricarmen Garcia, Walter Fuchs, Carlos Loncoman, Jeremy Volkening, Teresa Ross, Sylva Riblet, Taejoong Kim, Nathan Likens, Thomas Mettenleiter
Summary: In this study, a genetic system was developed to reconstitute infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) using a collection of yeast centromeric plasmids and bacterial cosmids. Viable replication-competent ILTV was successfully generated using overlapping cosmid clones and a YCp recombinant. The methodology and constructs developed in this study will facilitate the development of improved live virus vaccines.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Taejoong Kim, Cari J. Hearn, Jody Mays, Deborah Velez-Irizarry, Sanjay M. Reddy, Stephen J. Spatz, Hans H. Cheng, John R. Dunn
Summary: Marek's disease is a highly infectious lymphoproliferative disease in chickens caused by the Marek's disease virus. A study found that multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes in the virus genome are associated with virulence. By replacing nucleotides in the virus genome, the researchers discovered the association between these SNPs and virulence. However, these SNPs alone are not sufficient to result in the highly virulent pathotype.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Taejoong Kim, Cari Hearn
Summary: The study constructed a recombinant vaccine strain expressing chicken interleukin-15 (IL-15) to enhance the efficacy of Marek's disease (MD) vaccine. Although the expression of IL-15 did not interfere with the virus stability and growth, the protective efficacy of the recombinant vaccine was not significantly different from the parental virus. When used in combination with turkey herpesvirus (HVT), the recombinant vaccine slightly reduced viral shedding and mitigated thymus atrophy.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Taejoong Kim, Jeremy D. Volkening, Stephen J. Spatz
