Single dose of multi-clade virus-like particle vaccine protects chickens against clade 2.3.2.1 and clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 13786
• Main Authors: Kang, Yong-Myung, Cho, Hyun-Kyu, Kim, Ju Hun, Lee, Su Jin, Park, Seo-Jeong, Kim, Do-Young, Kim, Seong Yup, Park, Jung-won, Lee, Myoung-Heon, Kim, Min-Chul, Kang, Hyun-Mi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.07.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/250; 631/326; 692/699; Antibody response; Avian flu; Chickens; Humanities and Social Sciences; Influenza; multidisciplinary; Orthomyxoviridae; Pandemics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vaccines; Virus-like particles; Viruses
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93060-8

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are recognized as an alternative vaccine platform that provide effective protection against various highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs). Here, we developed multi-clade VLPs expressing two HAs (a chimera of clade 2.3.2.1c and clade 2.3.4.4c HA) within a single vector. We then compared its protective efficacy with that of a monovalent VLP and evaluated its potency against each homologous strain. Chickens vaccinated with the multi-clade VLP shed less virus and were better protected against challenge than birds receiving monovalent vaccines. Single vaccination with a multi-clade VLP resulted in 100% survival, with no clinical symptoms and high levels of pre-challenge protective immunity (7.6–8.5 log 2 ). Moreover, the multi-clade VLP showed high productivity (128–256 HAU) both in the laboratory and on a large scale, making it cheaper than whole inactivated vaccines produced in eggs. However, the PD 50 (protective dose 50%) of the multi-clade VLP against clades 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4c was < 50 PD 50 (28 and 42 PD 50 , respectively), and effective antibody response was maintained for 2–3 months. This multi-clade VLP protects against both clades of HPAI viruses and can be produced in high amounts at low cost. Thus, the vaccine has potential as a pandemic preparedness vaccine.