Highly immunogenic prime –boost DNA vaccination protects chickens against challenge with homologous and heterologous H5N1 virus

Publication date: 2014 Source:Trials in Vaccinology, Volume 3 Author(s): Anna Stachyra, Anna Góra-Sochacka, Róża Sawicka, Katarzyna Florys, Violetta Sączyńska, Monika Olszewska, Anna Pikuła, Krzysztof Śmietanka, Zenon Minta, Bogusław Szewczyk, Włodzimierz Zagórski, Agnieszka Sirko Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) cause huge economic losses in the poultry industry because of high mortality rate in infected flocks and trade restrictions. Protective antibodies, directed mainly against hemagglutinin (HA), are the primary means of protection against influenza outbreaks. A recombinant DNA vaccine based on the sequence of H5 HA from the H5N1/A/swan/Poland/305-135V08/2006 strain of HPAIV was prepared. Sequence manipulation included deletion of the proteolytic cleavage site to improve protein stability, codon usage optimization to improve translation and stability of RNA in host cells, and cloning into a commercially available vector to enable expression in animal cells. Naked plasmid DNA was complexed with a liposomal carrier and the immunization followed the prime–boost strategy. The immunogenic potential of the DNA vaccine was first proved in broilers in near-to-field conditions resembling a commercial farm. Next, the protective activity of the vaccine was confirmed in SPF layer-type chickens. Experimental infections (challenge experiments) indicated that 100% of vaccinated chickens were protected against H5N1 of the same cl...
Source: Trials in Vaccinology - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research