T-cell epitope supplementation enhanced cross-protection against H7N9 AIV in chickens via upregulated HA epitope-specific T cell and CD4 T cell-mediated help - PubMed
a day ago
- #T-cell epitopes
- #vaccine development
- #H7N9 AIV
- T-cell epitope supplementation enhances cross-protection against H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) in chickens.
- Four conserved epitopes of H7N9 HA were identified, including CD4 and CD8 T-cell epitopes.
- Incorporating these epitopes into an H7N9 whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccine via a DDA/TDB nanoparticle platform improved immune responses.
- The supplemented vaccine (H7N9 WIV + PP) elicited stronger humoral and cellular immunity compared to WIV alone.
- Enhanced protection was observed against antigenically divergent H7N9 virus challenges.
- Mechanistically, HA peptide-specific T-cell responses boosted HA-specific antibodies and mobilized protective CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immunity.
- This strategy offers a novel approach for developing broad-spectrum poultry vaccines against evolving AIV strains.