| Popis: |
Research objectives: Identification of highly conserved B-cell epitopes common to either H5 or H9 subtypes of AI Reconstruction of conserved epitopes from (1) as recombinantimmunogens, and testing their suitability to be used as universal vaccine components by measuring their binding to Influenza vaccinated sera of birds Vaccination of chickens with reconstituted epitopes and evaluation of successful vaccination, clinical protection and viral replication Development of a platform to investigate the dynamics of immune response towards infection or an epitope based vaccine Estimate our ability to focus the immune response towards an epitope-based vaccine using the tool we have developed in (D) Summary: This study is a multi-disciplinary study of four-way collaboration; The SERPL, USDA, Kimron-Israel, and two groups at TAU with the purpose of evaluating the production and implementation of epitope based vaccines against avian influenza (AI). Systematic analysis of the influenza viral spike led to the production of a highly conserved epitope situated at the hinge of the HA antigen designated “cluster 300” (c300). This epitope consists of a total of 31 residues and was initially expressed as a fusion protein of the Protein 8 major protein of the bacteriophagefd. Two versions of the c300 were produced to correspond to the H5 and H9 antigens respectively as well as scrambled versions that were identical with regard to amino acid composition yet with varied linear sequence (these served as negative controls). The recombinantimmunogens were produced first as phage fusions and then subsequently as fusions with maltose binding protein (MBP) or glutathioneS-transferase (GST). The latter were used to immunize and boost chickens at SERPL and Kimron. Furthermore, vaccinated and control chickens were challenged with concordant influenza strains at Kimron and SEPRL. Polyclonal sera were obtained for further analyses at TAU and computational bioinformatics analyses in collaboration with Prof. Pupko. Moreover, the degree of protection afforded by the vaccination was determined. Unfortunately, no protection could be demonstrated. In parallel to the main theme of the study, the TAU team (Gershoni and Pupko) designed and developed a novel methodology for the systematic analysis of the antibody composition of polyclonal sera (Deep Panning) which is essential for the analyses of the humoral response towards vaccination and challenge. Deep Panning is currently being used to monitor the polyclonal sera derived from the vaccination studies conducted at the SEPRL and Kimron. |
