"Revolutionizing Flu Vaccines with Hexaplex Technology"

A new recombinant flu vaccine using innovative nanoliposome technology is being developed by researchers, showing initial promising results against common flu strains. This information is courtesy of SciTechDaily.com.

The recombinant vaccine is performing better than existing vaccines in some areas according to tests.

Recombinant protein vaccines, including the COVID-19 Novavax vaccine, have several benefits over traditional vaccines. These advantages include precise production, safety, potential efficacy, and the requirement of smaller dosages.

This has led to a significant interest in developing recombinant influenza vaccines. Nonetheless, only one such vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration thus far.

A University at Buffalo-led research team is working on a new recombinant flu vaccine, detailed in a study published on February 23 in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. This vaccine has the potential to compete with existing ones.

Six proteins in total - three each, from two different protein groups; hemagglutinins and neuraminidases, representing the H1N1, H3N2 and type B influenza strains were attached by the team to the nanoliposome. This information is credited to the University at Buffalo.

Jonathan Lovell, PhD, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UB, states that their vaccine candidate could improve the efficiency of current vaccines against seasonal influenza which is not optimally effective amongst the general population. Lovell is the senior co-author of the study.

Traditional flu vaccine either contains inactivated influenza causing microbes or are based on weakened forms of the disease. They are typically made using fertilized chicken eggs or less commonly through cell culture-based production.

A nanoliposome-based vaccine called cobalt-porphyrin-phospholipid, or CoPoP, is being developed by the UB-led team. The CoPoP platform allows proteins that promote an immune response to be exhibited on the nanoliposome's surface, thereby boosting its vaccine efficacy.

The nanoliposomes, when combined with genetically engineered influenza proteins that can be developed based on viral genetic information, enhance the disease response of the immune system.

For the new study, the team attached six proteins (three each from two different protein groups, hemagglutinins, and neuraminidases) to the nanoliposome, and included two adjuvants (PHAD and QS21) to amplify the immune response.

The resultant "hexaplex" nanoliposome was tested by the researchers in animal models against three common flu strains: H1N1, H3N2, and type B.

Even in low doses, the hexaplex nanoliposome showed superior protection and survival from H1N1 as compared to Flublock, the only licensed recombinant flu vaccine in the U.S., and Fluaid, an egg-based vaccine. H3N2 and type B protection levels were found to be comparable in tests.

These tests were performed by vaccination and by transfusing blood serum from vaccinated mice into non-vaccinated mice.

Zachary Sia, a PhD candidate in Lovell’s lab and the study's lead author, says that the combination of the two protein groups led to synergistic effects especially with adjuvanted nanoliposomes in the production of functional antibodies and T-cell activation, both critical for combating severe flu infections.

Senior co-author of the study, research associate professor of anesthesiology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, Bruce Davidson, PhD, adds that using both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens to create vaccines is crucial for broader immunity and for creating more doses with fewer materials. Although there is much work to be done in fully testing and validating this flu technology, the preliminary results are encouraging.