Efficacy of Influenza Haemagglutinin and Nucleoprotein as Protective Antigens against Influenza Virus Infection in Mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Influenza nucleoprotein (NP)‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) stimulated by immunization of mice with VV‐PR8‐NP6, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing A/PR/8/34 NP, did not protect mice against challenge with A/PR/8/34 4 days later. Neither were secondary NP‐specific CTL stimulated by reimmunization able to protect mice. These results contrast with the ability of transferred, in vitro‐cultured and stimulated, NP‐specific CTL to protect recipient mice from challenge with A/PR/8/34. Immunization of mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing A/PR/8/34 HA protected mice challenged 4 days later, either via the small amount of antibody already present, or via HA‐specific CTL that would have to be more efficient than NP‐specific CTL in either trafficking to the infected lung or in effector function.