Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Scientists and professionals in the animal health field. Changes/Problems:There were no changes in the approach. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Staff training and professional development in veterinary vaccines How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publication in the journal and presentations at the scientific meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All goals have been successfully accomplished including immunogenicity and efficacy testing of triple-HA VLPs in poultry species as a broadly protective avian influenza (AI) vaccine. Triple-HA VLPs were prepared in Sf9 insect cells using baculovirus expression system. VLP vaccines included triple-subtype H5/H7/H9 VLPs, and triple-clade H5N1 vaccine. Characteristics of multi-HA VLPs were determined including expression levels in Sf9 cell culture and genetic stability. Immunogenicity and efficacy of multi-HA VLP vaccines were evaluated in chicken species in collaboration with the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL, USDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Protection against multiple AI challenges was tested in HPAI and LPAI models including multiple strains of H5N1 virus. This technology may allow preparation of cost-effective and highly effective polyvalent vaccines against AI in poultry.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Kapczynski DR, Tumpey TM, Hidajat R, Zsak A, Chrzastek K, Tretyakova I, Pushko P. Vaccination with virus-like particles containing H5 antigens from three H5N1 clades protects chickens from H5N1 and H5N8 influenza viruses.
Vaccine. 2016 Mar 18;34(13):1575-81.
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Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: During 1st year funding period, Medigen presented data from the USDA-supported project to the research community andto the potential commercialization partners. Business development office at Merial, a division of Sanofi Pasteur,has been contacted in order to establish communication withthe potential partner. Additionally, Medigen has communicated with the collaborating scientists at the SEPRL USDA laboratory (Athens, GA) and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA). Furthermore, Medigen prepared review publication entitled "Traditional and Novel Trends in Influenza Vaccines" for publishing in the "Viral Nanotechnology"book (CRC Press, 2015, Ed., Y. Khudyakov and P. Pumpens). This publication is expected to reach potential commercialization partners, as well as broad scientific community includingin the field of veterinary influenza vaccines. Medigen is also preparing a scientific publication (in manuscript) and will be presenting data at the upcoming scientific meetings during the remaining funding period. In summary, Medigen was actively working to reach potential commercial partners as well as broad research audience in order to inform them about the advantages and strengths of Medigen' technology to prepare broadly protective influenza vaccine. Such vaccine is improtantto protect poultry from bird flu and to ensure safety of the U.S. food supply. Changes/Problems: The ability to demonstrate co-localization of various H5 proteins within the same VLP is challenging due their antigenic similarities. Medigen is developing highly-specific methods to confirm the presence of all required H5 genes in the expression constructs. Althougha challenging task, we expect toconfirm all genes and to complete the project on time according to the contract specifications. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Participation in the USDA commercialization training program provided opportinity for training and professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Meetings, email and telephone communications, as well as scientific publications have been used to disseminate the results to the interested parties and communities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the next reporting period, the HA incorporation into VLPs will be further investigated. Immunogenicity and efficacy of multi-HA VLP vaccines will be evaluated in chicken and turkey species in collaboration with the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL, USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Protection against multiple avian influenza (AI) challenges will be tested in HPAI and LPAI models including multiple strains of H5N1 virus. If successful, this technology may allow rapid preparation of cost-effective and highly effective polyvalent poultry vaccines against AI.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the prototype triple-HA VLPs were prepared in Sf9 insect cells using baculovirus expression system. VLP vaccines included triple-subtype H5/H7/H9 VLPs, and triple-clade H5N1 vaccine. For this purpose, recombinant baculovirus vectors have been prepared for manufacturing of both proposed influenza vaccines. Characteristics of multi-HA VLPs were determined including expression levels in Sf9 cell culture, and morphology of VLPs by usingtransmission electron microscopy (TEM). Currently, Medigen is finishing quality control (QC) of the VLPs and preparing for shipment of VLP-based influenza vaccines to the collaborating lab at the SEPRL, USDA. Laboratory space in the ABSL-3 facility has been reserved for the upcoming vaccination and challenge studies using highly-pathogenic (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus as proposed in the grant contract. Infectious challenges with live influenza viruseswill be conducted in the bird species that are relevant to the agricultural commercial poultry (chickens, turkey).
Publications
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Chapter 25: "Traditional and Novel Trends in Influenza Vaccines". Book "Viral Nanotechnology", CRC Press, Editors, Y. Khudyakov and P. Pumpens, 2015 (in press)
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