Yeast display platform technology to prepare oral vaccine against lethal H7N9 virus challenge in mice

Abstract

Background Existing methods for preparing influenza vaccines pose the greatest challenge against the threat of highly pandemic avian influenza virus H7N9 outbreak in the poultry and human. Exploring a new strategy for manufacturing and delivering a safe and effective H7N9 vaccine is urgently needed. Results An alternative approach, proposed here, is to develop influenza an oral H7N9 vaccine based on yeast display technology in a timely manner. Hemagglutinin (HA) of A/Anhui/1/2013 (AH-H7N9) as a model antigen and characterized its expression on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ( S.cerevisiae ) EBY 100. Mice orally administrated with S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD5-HA produced significant titers of IgG antibody as well as significant amounts of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4. Importantly, S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD5-HA could provide complete immune protection against homologous A/Anhui/1/2013 (AH-H7N9) virus challenge. Conclusion Our findings suggest that platform based on yeast surface technology provides an alternative approach to prepare a promising influenza H7N9 vaccine candidate that can significantly shorten the preparedness period and result in effective protection against influenza A pandemic. Keywords: S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD5-HA, Yeast display technology, Influenza A pandemic.