The Quest for a Universal Flu Vaccine: Headless HA 2.0

Cell Host Microbe. 2015 Oct 14;18(4):395-7. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.10.003.

Abstract

Two recent publications report the design of immunogens based on the conserved stalk domain of the influenza virus hemagglutinin. These new "headless" hemagglutinin constructs recapitulate the epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies and induce broadly protective/heterosubtypic immunity in animal models, bringing us a step closer to "universal" influenza virus vaccines.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Cross Protection
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Discovery / trends
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Heterologous*
  • Influenza Vaccines / genetics
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic