A groundbreaking bird flu vaccine developed at the University at Buffalo has the potential to revolutionize the response to emerging influenza threats. Detailed in a new study published today in Cell Biomaterials, the vaccine offers complete protection in mice against the deadly H5N1 strain, raising hope for a faster and more adaptable defense against avian influenza outbreaks.

At this year’s SynBioBeta: The Global Synthetic Biology Company, a main stage session will tackle the subject of universal vaccine development, with the discussion led by innovative minds such as Dean Kamen, Jake Glanville, and Raj Panjabi.

Dual-Protein Strategy Targets Deadly Bird Flu Variant

Jonathan Lovell, PhD, professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UB, led the study focused on combating the 2.3.4.4b variant of H5N1. This particular strain has caused severe outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, and has even infected mammals such as cats, cattle, and sea lions. Lovell’s team developed an innovative approach by creating a vaccine that stimulates immune responses against two key viral proteins—hemagglutinin (H5) and neuraminidase (N1).

Historically, most bird flu vaccines have concentrated primarily on the hemagglutinin protein. However, Lovell’s research explored whether including neuraminidase could enhance vaccine efficacy. In animal studies, researchers administered vaccines containing either H5 alone, N1 alone, or both proteins combined:

• H5 alone offered complete protection, with vaccinated mice showing no signs of illness, weight loss, or detectable virus in their lungs.
• N1 alone provided partial protection, around 70% effective, with some vaccinated mice experiencing mild symptoms and viral presence.
• H5 and N1 combined also yielded complete protection, but this combination did not surpass the efficacy of H5 alone.

"We obviously have a lot more work to do, but the results thus far are extremely encouraging," Lovell said. The study highlights the critical role of the H5 protein in eliciting a robust immune response, essential for effective vaccination strategies.

Novel Nanoparticle Platform Speeds Vaccine Production

At the core of Lovell’s approach is an innovative nanoparticle platform named CoPoP, consisting of cobalt and porphyrin nanoparticles coated with a phospholipid shell. This vaccine platform, known as a recombinant protein vaccine, utilizes tiny spherical nanoparticles engineered to display specific viral proteins to the immune system.

To facilitate protein attachment to the nanoparticles, researchers employed histidine tags (his-tags), short amino acid sequences that strongly bind to the cobalt ions within the nanoparticles. "It’s kind of like a magnet attaching itself to a metal surface. It just clicks into place," Lovell explained. "It's fast and efficient, which is advantageous when you need to quickly ramp up vaccine production."

Furthermore, to boost the vaccine’s effectiveness, the researchers integrated two powerful immune-boosting adjuvants—QS-21 and synthetic monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA)—directly into the nanoparticle’s phospholipid layer. This combination is intended to stimulate a stronger and longer-lasting immune response.

Moving Beyond Egg-Based Influenza Vaccine Manufacturing

One significant advantage of this new vaccine platform is that it does not require egg-based production methods commonly used for influenza vaccines. Traditional influenza vaccine production involves growing the virus in chicken eggs, a time-consuming and limiting process.

"Because our vaccine does not require the use of eggs in the manufacturing process—as many influenza vaccines do—it is potentially a faster and more efficient way to protect humans and animals from deadly strains of bird flu," Lovell emphasized. Rapid scalability is particularly important given the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, which can quickly develop resistance to existing vaccines.

This platform, previously tested as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in South Korea and the Philippines, demonstrates significant potential for adaptability. Developed in partnership with UB spinoff POP Biotechnologies and South Korean company EuBiologics, the CoPoP platform’s versatility could prove crucial in future pandemic preparedness efforts.

Public health experts underscore the necessity of developing adaptable vaccine technologies capable of swiftly responding to new influenza strains. Lovell’s innovative approach positions his team’s vaccine platform as a potentially critical tool in global influenza preparedness strategies.