A recombinant herpes virus expressing influenza hemagglutinin confers protection and induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Katherine E. Kaugars, Joseph Dardick, Anna Paula de Oliveira, Kayla A. Weiss, Regy Lukose, John Kim, Lawrence W. Leung, Rajagopalan Saranathan, Sydney Wolin, Leor H. Akabas, David M. Knipe, Goran Bajic, William R. Jacobs
Abstract
Significance Despite decades of research, we lack an effective vaccine against influenza, a deadly virus that costs the United States nearly $90 billion annually. Current strategies do not translate into highly protective immunity against circulating and novel influenza strains. Here, we demonstrate that a herpes simplex viral (HSV) vector expressing hemagglutinin can be used to elicit a protective response against influenza. The efficacy of this vector is not abrogated by preexisting immunity to HSV, protects against lethal HSV challenge, and elicits highly functional FcγRIV-binding antibodies that can activate immune cell effector function. Expanding the use of ΔgD-2 as a viral vector in general could generate vaccines that are highly protective, quickly synthesized, and simultaneously effective against multiple pathogens.