University at Buffalo (UB) researchers in collaboration with colleagues from McGill University in Canada have developed a new recombinant influenza vaccine based on nanoliposomes and which in experiments appeared to outperform other existing vaccines, according to a publication in the scientific journal “Cell Reports Medicine”.
The research team attached to the nanoliposome six proteins – three from each group of proteins, hemagglutinins and neuraminidase – of the H1N1, H3N2 and B strains of the influenza virus. Credit: University at Buffalo
Reducing the risk of illness and death
“Due to the changing nature of influenza virus strains, existing vaccines do not have maximum effectiveness in the population as a whole. We believe our vaccine candidate has the ability to provide stronger and broader immunity while reducing the chances of disease and death,” said the study’s lead author. Jonathan Lovellprofessor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UB.
Conventional flu vaccines contain either neutralized or weakened versions of flu viruses. They are usually grown in hen’s eggs or, more rarely, produced in cell cultures.
The efficient CoPoP platform
The new vaccine is based on a liposome – a tiny spherical sac – which Professor Lovell and his colleagues created and called CoPoP (cobalt-porphyrin-phospholipid). The CoPoP platform leads to a strong immune response by promoting the appearance of the proteins on the surface of the nanoliposome and ultimately increasing the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Trials of nanoliposomes against COVID-19
It should be noted that the CoPoP vaccine platform has already passed phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in South Korea and the Philippines as a candidate vaccine for COVID-19. The new “nanoliposomal” flu vaccine is the “child” of a collaboration between UB’s spin-off company POP Biotechnologies, co-founded by Dr. Lovell, and the South Korean biotechnology company EuBiologics.
“Marriage” with six viral proteins
By themselves, the nanoliposomes the researchers developed cannot fight the flu. But when they “marry” with recombinant flu virus proteins that are created based on the genetic information of the virus, they increase the immune system’s response to the flu.
In the context of the new study, the research team attached a total of six proteins to the nanoliposome – three from the hemagglutinin protein group and three from the neuraminidase protein group. He also added two boosters (PHAD and QS21) to increase the immune response.
Trials of the “six-fold” vaccine against common strains of the virus
The scientists evaluated the “sixfold” nanoliposome in animal models (specifically mice) that were infected with three common strains of the influenza virus namely H1N1, H3N2 as well as type B strains of the virus.
Superiority against the H1N1 strain
As it turned out, even when the vaccine was given at a low dose it provided higher protection and better survival against the H1N1 strain that is still circulating this flu season compared to the only recombinant flu vaccine approved in the US (Flublok). as well as compared to a “conventional” egg-grown flu vaccine. In terms of the H3N2 strain as well as the strains of the influenza type B virus, the new vaccine appeared to offer equivalent effectiveness to the existing ones.
Antibody production and T cell activation
“The combination of two groups of proteins led to a synergistic action causing the production of functional antibodies and
activating T cells that are crucial against severe influenza infection,” noted study first author Zachary Xia, a PhD candidate in Professor Lovell’s lab.
And for other viruses
For his part, Bruce Davidson, associate professor of anesthesiology at UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences who was the other lead author of the study emphasized that “the use of antigens not only of hemagglutinin but also of neuraminidase to create a vaccine is important because it translates in wider immunization while at the same time companies will be able to produce more doses of vaccine with fewer materials. This will be extremely useful not only against the flu but also against epidemics of other viruses such as the COVID-19 pandemic we experienced. Although much work remains to be done to fully test and evaluate this new technology against influenza, our early results are very promising.”
The researchers have already applied for a patent for their technology in the US.
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