Stabilized Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Region Trimers and Uses Thereof

An effective universal influenza vaccine would eliminate the uncertain and costly process of seasonal influenza vaccine development each year. Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are developing immunogens which elicit neutralizing antibodies to the highly conserved stem region of the influenza viral protein hemagglutinin. By targeting this highly conserved region, which is nearly identical in various strains of influenza virus, these immunogens could train the immune system to defend against a wide variety of influenza strains including pandemic strains derived from animal reservoirs.

This vaccine candidate employs a protein nanoparticle platform to display portions of the highly conserved stem region of the group 1 hemagglutinin (HA) viral surface protein in its native, trimeric conformation. Animal studies have shown that the HA stem region trimers displayed on a nanoparticle are more immunogenic compared to HA stem region trimers alone. Immunization of mice and ferrets with an H1N1 nanoparticle HA stem immunogen conferred protection from a lethal dose of H5N1 virus.

NIAID is continuing development of these vaccine candidates through animal studies and moving toward clinical evaluation.

This technology is available for licensing for commercial development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404, as well as for further development and evaluation under a research collaboration.