Improved vaccines against influenza would enhance our ability to decrease the deleterious effects of epidemics. This study aims to develop genetic vaccination strategies against influenza. DNA and adenoviral vaccines have been developed against different strains of influenza, including the H5N1 avian flu, and testing has been initiated to determine the optimal strategies for immunization. Several DNA vaccine candidates showed promising results and one avian influenza vaccine is being tested through the VRC Clinical Trials Core.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01AI005003-06
Application #
7592379
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$1,183,785
Indirect Cost
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code
Nabel, Gary J (2013) Designing tomorrow's vaccines. N Engl J Med 368:551-60
Yang, Zhi-Yong; Wei, Chih-Jen; Kong, Wing-Pui et al. (2007) Immunization by avian H5 influenza hemagglutinin mutants with altered receptor binding specificity. Science 317:825-8
Kong, Wing-Pui; Hood, Chantelle; Yang, Zhi-Yong et al. (2006) Protective immunity to lethal challenge of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus by vaccination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:15987-91
Epstein, Suzanne L; Kong, Wing-pui; Misplon, Julia A et al. (2005) Protection against multiple influenza A subtypes by vaccination with highly conserved nucleoprotein. Vaccine 23:5404-10