Feasibility of reconstructed ancestral H5N1 influenza viruses for cross-clade protective vaccine development (original) (raw)

The reemergence of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses has presented significant challenges for vaccine development due to the viruses' antigenic variation. By reconstructing ancestral protein sequences of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes, a panel of viruses was created that demonstrated cross-reactivity with multiple H5N1 clades. The resulting whole-virus vaccines provided protection against various H5N1 strains in ferrets, confirming the feasibility of using computational design to improve vaccine effectiveness. This approach holds promise for enhancing the cross-reactivity and accessibility of H5N1 vaccines.