Researchers at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have designed influenza vaccine candidates based on group 2 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins. These group 2 HA proteins were engineered to remove the highly variable head region and stabilize the remaining stem region. The researchers then fused the engineered group 2 HA stabilized stem with a ferritin subunit. The resulting fusion protein can self-assemble into nanoparticles which display group 2 HA stem domain trimers on their surface.

These immunogens elicit cross-reactive antibodies to group 2 influenza viruses and could be used in combination with group 1 HA stem-ferritin immunogens as a universal influenza vaccine. Interestingly, a recent study by Andrews et al., Sci. Immunol. 2, eaan2676 (2017), suggests that cross-reactive group 1/group 2 HA stem antibodies may be more likely to be elicited in humans by a group 2 HA immunogen.

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.