An influenza mRNA vaccine protects ferrets from lethal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus
Masato Hatta, Yasuko Hatta, Angela Choi, Jaber Hossain, Chenchen Feng, Matthew W. Keller, Jana M. Ritter, Ying Huang, Emma Fang, Elizabeth A. Pusch, Thomas Rowe, Juan A. De La Cruz, Monique Johnson, Jimma Liddell, Nannan Jiang, Daniel Stadlbauer, Li Liu, A K Bhattacharjee, Joseph R Rouse, Michael Currier, Li Wang, Min Z. Levine, Marie K. Kirby, John Steel, Han Di, John Barnes, Carole Henry, C. Todd Davis, Raffael Nachbagauer, David E. Wentworth, Bin Zhou
Abstract
The global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus poses a serious pandemic threat, necessitating the swift development of effective vaccines. The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology in the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by its rapid development and scalability, demonstrates its potential for addressing other infectious threats, such as HPAI A(H5N1). We therefore evaluated mRNA vaccine candidates targeting panzootic influenza A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, which have been shown to infect a range of mammalian species, including most recently being detected in dairy cattle. Ferrets were immunized with mRNA vaccines encoding either hemagglutinin alone or hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, derived from a 2.3.4.4b prototype vaccine virus recommended by the World Health Organization. Kinetics of the immune responses, as well as protection against a lethal challenge dose of A(H5N1) virus, were assessed. Two doses of mRNA vaccination elicited robust neutralizing antibody titers against a 2022 avian isolate and a 2024 human isolate. Further, mRNA vaccination conferred protection from lethal challenge, whereas all unvaccinated ferrets succumbed to infection. It also reduced viral titers in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of infected ferrets. These results underscore the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against HPAI A(H5N1), showcasing their potential as a vaccine platform for future influenza pandemics.