Immune Netw.  2021 Aug;21(4):e28. 10.4110/in.2021.21.e28.

A “Prime and Deploy” Strategy for Universal Influenza Vaccine Targeting Nucleoprotein Induces Lung-Resident Memory CD8 T cells

• Chung H
• Kim EA
• Chang J

• KMID: 2522167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2021.21.e28

Abstract

Lung-resident memory T cells (T_RM ) play an essential role in protecting against pulmonary virus infection. Parenteral administration of DNA vaccine is generally not sufficient to induce lung CD8 T _RM cells. This study investigates whether intramuscularly administered DNA vaccine expressing the nucleoprotein (NP) induces lung T _RM cells and protects against the influenza B virus. The results show that DNA vaccination poorly generates lung T_RM cells and massive secondary effector CD8 T cells entering the lungs after challenge infection do not offer sufficient protection. Nonetheless, intranasal administration of non-replicating adenovirus vector expressing no Ag following priming DNA vaccination deploys NP-specific CD8 T_RM cells in the lungs, which subsequently offers complete protection. This novel ‘prime and deploy’ strategy could be a promising regimen for a universal influenza vaccine targeting the conserved NP Ag.

Keyword

Lung CD8 T_RM; DNA vaccine; Adenovirus vector; Intranasal; Influenza B virus