Abstract
Nucleoprotein is highly conserved among each type of influenza viruses (A and B) and has received significant attention as a good target for universal influenza vaccine. In this study, we determined whether a recombinant adenovirus encoding nucleoprotein of type B influenza virus (rAd/B-NP) confers protection against influenza virus infection in mice. We also identified a cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope in the nucleoprotein to determine B-NP-specific CD8 T-cell responses. We found that B-NP-specific CD8 T cells induced by rAd/B-NP immunization played a major role in protection following influenza B virus infection using CD8 knockout mice. To assess the effects of the administration routes on protective immunity, we immunized mice with rAd/B-NP via intranasal or intramuscular routes. Both groups showed strong NP-specific humoral and CD8 T-cell responses, but only intranasal immunization provided complete protection against both lineages of influenza B virus challenge. Intranasal but not intramuscular administration established resident memory CD8 T cells in the airway and lung parenchyma, which were required for efficient protection. Furthermore, rAd/B-NP in combination with rAd/A-NP protected mice against lethal infection with both influenza A and B viruses. These findings demonstrate that rAd/B-NP could be further developed as a universal vaccine against influenza.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 19-28 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Antiviral Research |
Volume | 163 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are grateful to the members of Immunology laboratory for helpful discussion and technical assistant. The authors also thank all the members of the HYEHWA FORUM for helpful comments and creative motivation. This research was supported by National Research Foundation (grant No. NRF-2018R1A2B6002388 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
- Influenza B virus
- Mucosal immunization
- Nucleoprotein
- Protection
- Vaccine