Modified influenza virus for monitoring and improving vaccine efficiency

摘要

The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.

主权项

1. A method for determining the efficacy of an influenza virus vaccine in a subject, which method comprises reacting antisera derived from the vaccinated subject with a recombinant influenza virus comprising a H5 hemagglutinin (HA) molecule, wherein the HA molecule comprises an asparagine at an amino acid position corresponding to amino acid position 223 in H5 HA and is not an A/HK/213/03 HA molecule, and determining the amount of the virus bound by the antisera.