Influenza Neuraminidase Proteins Research Articles

Sequential Immunizations with Influenza Neuraminidase Protein Followed by Peptide Nanoclusters Induce Heterologous Protection.

Enhancing cross-protections against diverse influenza viruses is desired for influenza vaccinations. Neuraminidase (NA)-specific antibody responses have been found to independently correlate with a broader influenza protection spectrum. Here, we report a sequential immunization regimen that includes priming with NA protein followed by boosting with peptide nanoclusters, with which targeted enhancement of antibody responses in BALB/c mice to certain cross-protective B-cell epitopes of NA was achieved. The nanoclusters were fabricated via desolvation with absolute ethanol and were only composed of composite peptides. Unlike KLH conjugates, peptide nanoclusters would not induce influenza-unrelated immunity. We found that the incorporation of a hemagglutinin peptide of H2-d class II restriction into the composite peptides could be beneficial in enhancing the NA peptide-specific antibody response. Of note, boosters with N2 peptide nanoclusters induced stronger serum cross-reactivities to heterologous N2 and even heterosubtypic N7 and N9 than triple immunizations with the prototype recombinant tetrameric (rt) N2. The mouse challenge experiments with HK68 H3N2 also demonstrated the strong effectiveness of the peptide nanocluster boosters in conferring heterologous protection.

Amino Acid Substitutions Analysis of the Putative Epitopes of Neuraminidase Protein from Influenza A H1N1 Virus

Objective: This study verified whether the neuraminidase protein of Influenza A H1N1 virus sequence has modified from 2009–2017 and its impact on the 2018 Brazilian vaccine. Method: The reference neuraminidase protein sequence from H1N1 Puerto Rico/1934 strain was subjected to three different methods of epitope prediction and the top five from each method were aligned using Clustal omega, resulting in eight putative epitopes. These epitopes were aligned to 7,438 neuraminidase sequences spanning from 2009–2017 and analyzed for specific amino acid substitutions and counted. The resultant neuraminidase protein was aligned against the 2015 and 2018 neuraminidase proteins, from Influenza A H1N1 virus subtypes, used for vaccine production. Result: Twenty-one main substitutions were detected, of which 16/21 (76.2%) substitutions points remained stable and 1/21 (4.8%) returned to the original amino acid residue in the viral population from 2009–2017. Additionally, 19% (4/21) substitutions occurred in Brazil and worldwide in this period, indicating that changes in the neuraminidase viral population profile is time-dependent rather than geographical. Conclusion: The neuraminidase protein containing these amino acid substitutions is more closely related to the neuraminidase protein from influenza A/Michigan/45/2015 than A/California/7/2009, supporting the replacement of this virus subtype in the Brazilian vaccine in 2018.

Broad and Protective Influenza B Virus Neuraminidase Antibodies in Humans after Vaccination and their Clonal Persistence as Plasma Cells.

Although most seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) contain neuraminidase (NA), the extent and mechanisms of action of protective human NA-specific humoral responses induced by vaccination are poorly resolved. Due to the propensity of influenza virus for antigenic drift and shift and its tendency to elicit predominantly strain-specific antibodies, humanity remains susceptible to waves of new strains of seasonal viruses and is at risk from viruses with pandemic potential for which limited or no immunity may exist. Here we demonstrate that the use of IIV results in increased levels of influenza B virus (IBV) NA-specific serum antibodies. Detailed analysis of the IBV NA B cell response indicates concurrent expansion of IBV NA-specific peripheral blood plasmablasts 7 days after IIV immunization which express monoclonal antibodies with broad and potent antiviral activity against both IBV Victoria and Yamagata lineages and prophylactic and therapeutic activity in mice. These IBV NA-specific B cell clonal lineages persisted in CD138+ long-lived bone marrow plasma cells. These results represent the first demonstration that IIV-induced NA human antibodies can protect and treat influenza virus infection in vivo and suggest that IIV can induce a subset of IBV NA-specific B cells with broad protective potential, a feature that warrants further study for universal influenza vaccine development.IMPORTANCE Influenza virus infections continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality despite the availability of seasonal vaccines. The extensive genetic variability in seasonal and potentially pandemic influenza strains necessitates new vaccine strategies that can induce universal protection by focusing the immune response on generating protective antibodies against conserved targets such as regions within the influenza neuraminidase protein. We have demonstrated that seasonal immunization stimulates neuraminidase-specific antibodies in humans that are broad and potent in their protection from influenza B virus when tested in mice. These antibodies further persist in the bone marrow, where they are expressed by long-lived antibody-producing cells, referred to here as plasma cells. The significance in our research is the demonstration that seasonal influenza immunization can induce a subset of neuraminidase-specific B cells with broad protective potential, a process that if further studied and enhanced could aid in the development of a universal influenza vaccine.

Design of peptide epitope from the neuraminidase protein of influenza A and influenza B towards short peptide vaccine development.

Influenza viruses A and B are important human respiratory pathogens causing seasonal, endemic and pandemic infections in several parts of the globe with high morbidity and considerable mortality. The current inactivated and live attenuated vaccines are not effective. Therefore, it is of interest to design universal influenza virus vaccines with high efficacy. The peptide GQSVVSVKLAGNSSL of pandemic influenza, the peptide DKTSVTLAGNSSLCS of seasonal influenza and the peptide DILLKFSPTEITAPT of influenza B were identified as potential linear cell mediated epitopes. The epitopes predicted by BepiPred (B-cell epitope designer) program was subjected to docking experiment-using HexDock and CABS dock programs. The epitopes of pandemic H1N1 influenza A gave similar score of high affinity in docking. The epitope DKTSVTLAGNSSLCS of seasonal influenza A and epitope DILLKFSPTEITAPT of influenza B had high binding energy. It is further observed that the peptides GQSVVSVKLAGNSSL (pandemic influenza), DKTSVTLAGNSSLCS (seasonal influenza) DILLKFSPTEITAPT (influenza B) are found to interact with some known MHC class II alleles. These peptides have high-affinity binding with known MHC class II alleles. Thus, they have the potential to elicit cell immune response. These vaccines have to be further evaluated in animal models and human volunteers. These findings have application in the development of peptide B-cell epitope vaccines against influenza viruses.

A broadly protective anti-influenza neuraminidase monoclonal antibody (VAC11P.1100)

Abstract Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are the major surface glycoproteins of influenza viruses and the main targets of vaccine-induced antibodies (Abs). While several broadly neutralizing anti-HA Abs can cross-protect against diverse influenza subtypes, NA-specific Abs could only protect partially against strains from the same subtype. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analyses of all publicly available influenza A and B NA sequences, we found a universally conserved 9-mer peptide (ILRTQESEC) amongst all influenza NA proteins (amino acids 222-230). Growth kinetics of recombinant viruses with single alanine substitutions within this epitope proved its crucial roles in viral fitness and replication. Importantly, a monoclonal Ab (HCA-2 mAb) raised against this sequence showed broad in vitro inhibition against multiple strains from all influenza A NA subtypes (N1-N9) and influenza B lineages. It also provided in vivo heterosubtypic protection against lethal doses of H1N1 and H3N2 strains. Amino acid residues I222 and E227, located in close proximity to the active site, were found to be indispensable for inhibition by HCA-2 mAb. These findings reveal the essential role of this highly-conserved sequence in NA function and viral replication and show that it is sufficiently exposed to allow access of inhibitory Abs during the course of infection. Thus, it could represent a potential target for novel antivirals or vaccines against diverse strains of influenza A and B viruses.

A universal monoclonal antibody protects against all influenza A and B viruses by targeting a highly conserved epitope in the viral neuraminidase

BackgroundHemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are thetwo major surface glycoproteins of influenza viruses andthe main targets of vaccine-induced antibodies (Abs).While several broadly neutralizing Abs targeting con-served epitopes in diverse HA subtypes have been iso-lated, NA-specific Abs could only cross-protect partiallyagainst homologous and heterologous strains from thesame subtype.Materials and methodsComprehensive bioinformatics analyses of all publiclyavailable full-length NA sequences using multiple align-ments and Shannon entropy were conducted to identifyconserved sequences in all influenza A and B viral NA [1].Growth kinetics of wild-type or recombinant viruses withsingle alanine substitutions within the identified regionswas then analyzed in MDCK cells. A rabbit monoclonalAb (mAb), denoted as HCA-2, raised against one of thecharacterized sequences was then examined for its in vitroinhibitory effects and in vivo prophylactic efficacy againstseveral influenza A and B strains.ResultsBioinformatics analyses uncovered a universally con-served 9-mer peptide amongst all influenza NA proteins(amino acids 222-230 and comprised of “ILRTQESEC”).Substitutions within this universal epitope underscoredits crucial roles in viral fitness and replication [2].Importantly, the HCA-2 mAb showed broad in vitroinhibition against multiple strains from all influenza ANA subtypes (N1-N9) and influenza B viruses from bothVictoria and Yamagata genetic lineages [3,4]. It also pro-vided heterosubtypic protection in mice against lethaldoses of H1N1 and H3N2 strains. Finally, amino acidresidues I222 and E227, located in close proximity tothe active site, were found to be indispensable for inhi-bition by this mAb [3,4].ConclusionsThese findings reveal the essential role of this uniquehighly-conserved sequence in NA function and viralreplication and indicate that it is sufficiently exposed toallow access by inhibitory antibody during the course ofinfection. Thus, it could represent a potential target fornovel antivirals or targeted-vaccines against diversestrains of influenza A and B viruses.

Downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 by the neuraminidase protein of influenza A (H1N1) virus

Influenza A (H1N1) virus, a high-risk infectious pathogen, can cause severe acute lung injury leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays a protective role in pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Here, we showed that ACE2 protein levels were significantly downregulated after infection with H1N1 viruses but was dispensable for viral replication. ACE2 protein downregulation was most likely related to ACE2 protein degradation by proteasome pathway rather than ACE2 shedding. Finally, we found that ACE2 cleavage could be regulated by influenza neuraminidase (NA), which was fundamentally different from the classically sheddase-induced proteolytic cleavage of ACE2.

Development of a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay for detection of E119V amino acid change in neuraminidase of influenza A (H3N2) using the TaqMan-MGB probe

To develop a rapid duplex Real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) method to detect E119V mutation on neuraminidase (NA) of influenza A(H3N2) subtype with drug resistance to oseltamivir. Twenty-six NA genes of influenza A(H3N2) virus between 2000 and 2012 in GenBank database were selected as the target genes, and specific TaqMan-MGB probe was designed to target the E119V amino acid change in neuraminidase protein. rRT-PCR was then performed and evaluated for the sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility using virus with E119V mutation and clinical samples. This study described the validation of a highly sensitive and specific duplex rRT-PCR for detection of substitutions leading to the E119V amino acid change in NA protein of influenza A(H3N2). Fluorescence signals could be detected even when diluted a A (H3N2) virus (HA = 8) into 10(-5) and linear correlation between the logarithm of the viral titer with the Ct values was observed. In addition, the assay was highly specific in that there was no cross-react with other respiratory viruses, nor did two TaqMan-MGB probes. E119V substitution in quasispecies with both sensitive and resistant viruses could be detected as well. The limit of detection was 5% for quasispecies with high concentrations and 50% for quasispecies with low concentrations. The average coefficient of variation (CV) for within-run assays was 2.32% and 0.57% for H3N2-119E and H3N2-119V primer/probe sets separately, 1.77% and 0.97% for average CV of between-run assays, which exhibited good repeatability. Sequence analysis of twenty NA genes verified glutamic acid (E) at amino acid site 119, which was in consistent with the results from our rRT-PCR method. The assay developed in this study is highly sensitive and specific, and easy to operate; thereby it could be used for identification of A(H3N2) virus with E119V amino acid change in NA protein.

Antigenic variability in Neuraminidase protein of Influenza A/H3N2 vaccine strains (1968 - 2009).

Antigenic drift and shift involving the surface proteins of Influenza virus gave rise to new strains that caused epidemics affecting millions of people worldwide over the last hundred years. Variations in the membrane proteins like Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) necessitates new vaccine strains to be updated frequently and poses challenge to effective vaccine design. Though the HA protein, the primary target of the human immune system, has been well studied, reports on the antigenic variability in the other membrane protein NA are sparse. In this paper we investigate the molecular basis of antigenic drift in the NA protein of the Influenza A/H3N2 vaccine strains between 1968 and 2009 and proceed to establish correlation between antigenic drift and antigen-antibody interactions. Sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses were carried out and the antigenic variability was evaluated in terms of antigenic distance. To study the effects of antigenic drift on the protein structures, 3D structure of NA from various strains were predicted. Also, rigid body docking protocol has been used to study the interactions between these NA proteins and antibody Mem5, a 1998 antibody.

Enhancement of the Influenza A Hemagglutinin (HA)-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion and Virus Entry by the Viral Neuraminidase (NA)

BackgroundThe major role of the neuraminidase (NA) protein of influenza A virus is related to its sialidase activity, which disrupts the interaction between the envelope hemagglutin (HA) protein and the sialic acid receptors expressed at the surface of infected cells. This enzymatic activity is known to promote the release and spread of progeny viral particles following their production by infected cells, but a potential role of NA in earlier steps of the viral life cycle has never been clearly demonstrated. In this study we have examined the impact of NA expression on influenza HA-mediated viral membrane fusion and virion infectivity.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe role of NA in the early stages of influenza virus replication was examined using a cell-cell fusion assay that mimics HA-mediated membrane fusion, and a virion infectivity assay using HIV-based pseudoparticles expressing influenza HA and/or NA proteins. In the cell-cell fusion assay, which bypasses the endocytocytosis step that is characteristic of influenza virus entry, we found that in proper HA maturation conditions, NA clearly enhanced fusion in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, expression of NA at the surface of pseudoparticles significantly enhanced virion infectivity. Further experiments using exogeneous soluble NA revealed that the most likely mechanism for enhancement of fusion and infectivity by NA was related to desialylation of virion-expressed HA.Conclusion/SignificanceThe NA protein of influenza A virus is not only required for virion release and spread but also plays a critical role in virion infectivity and HA-mediated membrane fusion.

Defining the directionality and quality of influenza virus–specific CD8+ T cell cross-reactivity in individuals infected with hepatitis C virus

Cross-reactivity of murine and recently human CD8(+) T cells between different viral peptides, i.e., heterologous immunity, has been well characterized. However, the directionality and quality of these cross-reactions is critical in determining their biological importance. Herein we analyzed the response of human CD8(+) T cells that recognize both a hepatitis C virus peptide (HCV-NS3) and a peptide derived from the influenza neuraminidase protein (Flu-NA). To detect the cross-reactive CD8(+) T cells, we used peptide-MHC class I complexes (pMHCs) containing a new mutant form of MHC class I able to bind CD8 more strongly than normal MHC class I complexes. T cell responses against HCV-NS3 and Flu-NA peptide were undetectable in normal donors. In contrast, some responses against the Flu-NA peptide were identified in HCV(+) donors who showed strong HCV-NS3-specific reactivity. The Flu-NA peptide was a weak agonist for CD8(+) T cells in HCV(+) individuals on the basis of novel pMHCs and functional assays. These data support the idea of cross-reactivity between the 2 peptides, but indicate that reactivity toward the Flu-NA peptide is highly CD8-dependent and occurs predominantly after priming during HCV infection. Our findings indicate the utility of the novel pMHCs in dissecting cross-reactivity and suggest that cross-reactivity between HCV and influenza is relatively weak. Further studies are needed to relate affinity and functionality of cross-reactive T cells.