Wang Y, Li Q, Peng P, Zhang Q, Huang Y, Hu J, Hu Z. Dual N-linked glycosylation at residues 133 and 158 in the hemagglutinin are essential for the efficacy of H7N9 avian influenza virus like particle vaccine in chickens and mice. Vet Microbiol. 2024 May 9;294:110108
H7N9 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a great challenge to poultry industry. Virus-like particle (VLP) is a prospective alternative for the traditional egg-based influenza vaccines. N-linked glycosylation (NLG) regulates the efficacy of influenza vaccines, whereas the impact of NLG modifications on the efficacy of influenza VLP vaccines remains unclear. Here, H7N9 VLPs were assembled in insect cells through co-infection with the baculoviruses expressing the NLG-modified hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase and matrix proteins, and the VLP vaccines were assessed in chickens and mice. NLG modifications significantly enhanced hemagglutination-inhibition and virus neutralization antibody responses in mice, rather than in chickens, because different immunization strategies were used in these animal models. The presence of dual NLG at residues 133 and 158 significantly elevated HA-binding IgG titers in chickens and mice. The VLP vaccines conferred complete protection and significantly suppressed virus replication and lung pathology post challenge with H7N9 viruses in chickens and mice. VLP immunization activated T cell immunity-related cytokine response and inhibited inflammatory cytokine response in mouse lung. Of note, the presence of dual NLG at residues 133 and 158 optimized the capacity of the VLP vaccine to stimulate interleukin-4 expression, inhibit virus shedding or alleviate lung pathology in chickens or mice. Intriguingly, the VLP vaccine with NLG addition at residue 133 provided partial cross-protection against the H5Nx subtype AIVs in chickens and mice. In conclusion, dual NLG at residues 133 and 158 in HA can be potentially used to enhance the efficacy of H7N9 VLP vaccines in chickens and mammals.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Deep learning predicts potential reassortments of avian H5N1 with human influenza viruses 1 hours ago
- Cats are more susceptible to the prevalent H3 subtype influenza viruses than dogs 1 hours ago
- Overview of high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in wildlife from Central and South America, October 2022-September 2025 1 hours ago
- Phylogenetic Analysis of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H7 Viruses in Australia and New Zealand Suggests Local Viral Evolution 23 hours ago
- AI-Powered Identification of Human Cell Surface Protein Interactors of the Hemagglutinin Glycoprotein of High-Pandemic-Risk H5N1 Influenza Virus 23 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


