Recent advances in universal influenza vaccine based on matrix protein 2

Abstract

Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent influenza.Due to the characteristics of antigenic drift and antigenic shift,existing vaccines do not provide good protection against seasonal influenza as well as emerging influenza pandemic.A universal influenza vaccine that can confer cross-protection against different subtypes of influenza strains is highly desirable for public.Matrix protein 2 (M2),especially its extra-domain,which is highly conserved among all subtypes of influenza A virus,is a promising candidate antigen for the development of a broad-spectrum recombinant influenza vaccine.The results of M2-based vaccination have been proved to protect against lethal challenge of homologous and heterologous influenza A viruses successfully in animal. Key words: Influenza vaccines; Influenza A virus; Viral matrix proteins