Universal Flu Vaccine Based on Protein Nanoparticles

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Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza epidemics cause an estimated 650,000 deaths worldwide annually. Vaccination still provides the most effective method to prevent human influenza disease, and market reports have estimated the influenza vaccine market to be worth approximately $3B/year. And while production methods have evolved over the decades, current flu vaccines still provide only limited protection against circulating influenza A viruses, and the composition must be updated annually due to rapid viral mutation. Also, egg supply-dependent production results in an intensive and lengthy manufacturing process. A universal, long-lasting influenza vaccine that provides protection across all influenza strains has yet to be commercialized and is highly needed. Technology: Georgia State University researchers have invented a new form of protein nanoparticle (PNp) as an innovative platform for developing universal influenza vaccines with the potential of increased protective potency and breadth. The key elements of this flu vaccine are two well conserved flu immunogens: the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk domain and matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e). Layered nanoparticles are fabricated by desolvating tetrameric M2e into PNp cores and coating these cores by crosslinking headless HAs. This novel antigen displaying double-layered PNp represents a new concept to the development of universal vaccines. In vivo animal studies indicated robust and long-lasting immunity against homosubtypic and heterosubtypic influenza A infections. This technology furthermore provides a potential framework for vaccine development against conserved epitopes from other highly mutation-prone viruses, such as HIV and influenza B.