Production of Recombinant HA1 subunit from H5N1 Avian Influenza Hemagglutinin in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Influenza A/H5N1 represents a potential risk of a worldwide pandemic event, and as we have witnessed in past influenza outbreaks, the current production chains for vaccination cannot supply the demand for emergencies such as these. Limiting factors include the need for eggs and active virus handling as well as turnaround time and cost. Most of the influenza AH5N1 cases are contained in poultry; however, risk of zoonosis and spread of the virus in humans grows by the day, thus, a mass-produced fast-responding preventive vaccine is required. In this article, we describe the production of a recombinant HA1 subunit of influenza AH5N1 hemagglutinin as a potential key ingredient of a new avian vaccine, using a prokaryotic biotechnological platform. This system is potentially faster, cheaper, and more efficient than current means of vaccine production.