Letter
Immunology
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza, Jessica A. Belser, Nicole Brock, Poulami Basu Thakur, Terrence M. Tumpey, Taronna R. Maines
Summary: This study evaluated the pathogenicity and transmissibility of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus using a ferret model and examined its replication kinetics in human respiratory tract cells.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Forst, Laura Martin-Sancho, Shashank Tripathi, Guojun Wang, Luiz Gustavo Dos Anjos Borges, Minghui Wang, Adam Geber, Lauren Lashua, Tao Ding, Xianxiao Zhou, Chalise E. Carter, Giorgi Metreveli, Ariel Rodriguez-Frandsen, Matthew D. Urbanowski, Kris M. White, David A. Stein, Hong Moulton, Sumit K. Chanda, Lars Pache, Megan L. Shaw, Ted M. Ross, Elodie Ghedin, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Bin Zhang
Summary: This study compares the molecular responses to influenza A virus infection in humans, ferrets, and mice, and identifies both conserved and species-specific molecular responses. Human hosts have unique antigen processing functions, while highly conserved gene coexpression modules across the three species are associated with cell cycle and interferon signaling pathways. TDRD7 is identified as an IFN-inducible host factor that is up-regulated in response to IAV infection in all three species, potentially modulating IFN signaling via the JAK/STAT/IRF9 pathway.
Article
Microbiology
Troy C. Sutton, Elaine W. Lamirande, Devanshi R. Patel, Katherine E. E. Johnson, Rita Czako, Elodie Ghedin, Raphael T. C. Lee, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Kanta Subbarao
Summary: Through sequential rounds of airborne transmission experiments in ferrets, it has been confirmed that viruses infected through the respiratory route can continue to spread in ferrets, but the transmission efficiency varies depending on the virus strain. Emerging avian influenza viruses can also transmit between ferrets through sequential transmission.
Review
Virology
Charles J. Russell
Summary: Genetically diverse influenza A viruses circulate in wild aquatic birds, causing outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics in various species. Studies show that the stability of the HA surface glycoprotein can modulate host range, replication, pathogenicity, and transmissibility of the virus.
Article
Virology
Ying Huang, Amanda L. Skarlupka, Hyesun Jang, Uriel Blas-Machado, Nathan Holladay, R. Jeffrey Hogan, Ted M. Ross
Summary: This study investigates the coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza viruses using ferret models. The coinfection in immunologically naive ferrets leads to more severe symptoms and easier transmission of the seasonal influenza virus through direct contact. Vaccination significantly reduces the viral load and the duration of viral shedding, and protects against severe morbidity induced by coinfection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Koen van de Ven, Josien Lanfermeijer, Harry van Dijken, Hiromi Muramatsu, Caroline Vilas Boas de Melo, Stefanie Lenz, Florence Peters, Mitchell B. Beattie, Paulo J. C. Lin, Jose A. Ferreira, Judith van den Brand, Debbie van Baarle, Norbert Pardi, Jorgen de Jonge
Summary: This study evaluated a novel T cell-inducing nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine that encoded conserved proteins of an H1N1 influenza virus, and found that it induced broadly reactive T cells and enhanced protection against potential influenza viruses.
Article
Immunology
Anthony C. Marriott, Karen E. Gooch, Phillip J. Brown, Kathryn A. Ryan, Nicola J. Jones, Natasha Merredew, Nathan Wiblin, Oliver Dibben, Helen Bright, Bassam Hallis, Catherine J. Whittaker, Miles W. Carroll
Summary: Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) provides strong protection in ferret models, reducing the severity of disease following challenge with different influenza subtypes, and offers protection against heterosubtypic influenza strains not included in the vaccine. This protection is correlated with cross-reactive T-cell responses, highlighting the importance of cross-reactive T-cells in designing a universal influenza vaccine.
Review
Immunology
Poulami Basu Thakur, Victoria J. Mrotz, Taronna R. Maines, Jessica A. Belser
Summary: Ferrets serve as a valuable model for studying influenza virus and bacterial pathogens, both individually and in coinfection scenarios. By utilizing the ferret model, scientists can gain insights into the dynamic interactions between these pathogens, which can contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Caroline Vilas Boas de Melo, Florence Peters, Harry van Dijken, Stefanie Lenz, Koen van de Ven, Lisa Wijsman, Angela Gomersbach, Tanja Schouten, Puck B. van Kasteren, Judith van den Brand, Jorgen de Jonge
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions such as face masks, social distancing, and isolation not only decreased the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 but also reduced the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza. However, with the relaxation of restrictions, influenza is gradually making a comeback. This study suggests that individuals suffering from post-acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially those with a stronger infection and long-term effects, may be more susceptible to severe influenza disease. Therefore, including long-COVID patients as a high-risk group for influenza vaccination may be advisable.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jaekeun Park, Sharon L. Fong Legaspi, Louis M. Schwartzman, Sebastian M. Gygli, Zhong-Mei Sheng, Ashley D. Freeman, Lex M. Matthews, Yongli Xiao, Mitchell D. Ramuta, Natalia A. Batchenkova, Li Qi, Luz Angela Rosas, Stephanie L. Williams, Kelsey Scherler, Monica Gouzoulis, Ian Bellayr, David M. Morens, Kathie-Anne Walters, Matthew J. Memoli, John C. Kash, Jeffery K. Taubenberger
Summary: A new type of influenza vaccine has demonstrated broad protection against multiple IAV subtypes in both mice and ferrets. This vaccine approach shows the feasibility of eliciting broad, heterosubtypic IAV protection and identifies a promising candidate for influenza vaccine clinical development.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zachary R. Sia, Xuedan He, Ali Zhang, Jann C. Ang, Shuai Shao, Amal Seffouh, Wei-Chiao Huang, Michael R. D'Agostino, Amir Teimouri Dereshgi, Sambhara Suryaprakash, Joaquin Ortega, Hanne Andersen, Matthew S. Miller, Bruce A. Davidson, Jonathan F. Lovell
Summary: The study evaluated a vaccine adjuvant system consisting of immunogenic liposomes, which can enhance antigen delivery and immune responses. It was found that this system induced strong antibody responses and provided protection in mice following infection challenges. Furthermore, binding different surface antigens to liposomes induced specific antibody responses in mice and protected against challenging viruses.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Joanna A. Pulit-Penaloza, Nicole Brock, Jessica A. Belser, Xiangjie Sun, Claudia Pappas, Terrence M. Tumpey, Taronna R. Maines
Summary: The analysis of 14 diverse influenza viruses in ferrets reveals that efficient ferret-to-ferret transmission via air is directly associated with robust emission of virus-laden particles at early times. The measurement of viral load in the air is typically not a component of routine studies using the ferret transmission model, but our findings show that transmissible viruses display fast release into the air. This suggests that quantification of viral RNA in the air represents a useful addition to assessments of new influenza virus strains.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
James D. Allen, Ted M. Ross
Summary: The study found that broadly-reactive influenza virus vaccine antigens targeting A(H3N2) influenza viruses are more effective at producing cross-reactive antibodies than traditional vaccines, with higher neutralizing capabilities against historical, contemporary, and future drifted influenza strains.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthew D. Gallovic, Robert D. Junkins, Adam M. Sandor, Erik S. Pena, Christopher J. Sample, Ariel K. Mason, Leslee C. Arwood, Rebecca A. Sahm, Eric M. Bachelder, Kristy M. Ainslie, Gregory D. Sempowski, Jenny P. -Y. Ting
Summary: The current pandemic emphasizes the importance of effective vaccines against respiratory viruses. This study presents a vaccine strategy using a scalable microparticle platform containing a STING agonist as an adjuvant, which provides durable protection against the influenza virus. Animal studies demonstrate that this vaccine-adjuvant combination can reduce viral shedding, improve vaccine outcomes, and provide sustained protection even a year after a single dose.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Limin Zhang, Junyu Chen, Chenguang Shen, Guosong Wang, Zhen Lu, Dian Zeng, Ying Gao, Huiqing Chen, Ningshao Xia, Yixin Chen
Summary: This study evaluated the characteristics and efficacy of different glycosylation profiles of influenza HA proteins and found that deglycosylated HA can induce a cross-strain protective immune response with better antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) than glycosylated HA.