Abstract
The 2009 influenza pandemics underscored the need for effective vaccines to block the spread of influenza virus infection. Most live attenuated vaccines utilize cold-adapted, temperature-sensitive virus. An alternative to live attenuated virus is presented here, based on microRNA-induced gene silencing. In this study, miR-let-7b target sequences were inserted into the H1N1 genome to engineer a recombinant virus - miRT-H1N1. Female BALB/c mice were vaccinated intranasally with the miRT-H1N1 and challenged with a lethal dose of homologous virus. This miRT-H1N1 virus was attenuated in mice, while it exhibited wild-type characteristics in chicken embryos. Mice vaccinated intranasally with the miRT-H1N1 responded with robust immunity that protected the vaccinated mice from a lethal challenge with the wild-type 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. These results indicate that the influenza virus containing microRNA response elements (MREs) is attenuated in vivo and can be used to design a live attenuated vaccine.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.