A recombinant influenza virus vaccine expressing the F protein of respiratory syncytial virus

Arch Virol. 2014 May;159(5):1067-77. doi: 10.1007/s00705-013-1932-z. Epub 2013 Dec 1.

Abstract

Infections with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rank high among the most common human respiratory diseases worldwide. Previously, we developed a replication-incompetent influenza virus by replacing the coding sequence of the PB2 gene, which encodes one of the viral RNA polymerase subunits, with that of a reporter gene. Here, we generated a PB2-knockout recombinant influenza virus expressing the F protein of RSV (PB2-RSVF virus) and tested its potential as a bivalent vaccine. In mice intranasally immunized with the PB2-RSVF virus, we detected high levels of antibodies against influenza virus, but not RSV. PB2-RSVF virus-immunized mice were protected from a lethal challenge with influenza virus but experienced severe body weight loss when challenged with RSV, indicating that PB2-RSVF vaccination enhanced RSV-associated disease. These results highlight one of the difficulties of developing an effective bivalent vaccine against influenza virus and RSV infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / prevention & control
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / metabolism
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Fusion Proteins