Stabilized Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Region Trimers Available for Licensing

 Licensing Opportunity:

Stabilized Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Region Trimers

3-D illustration of a flu virus. Credit: NIAID

An effective universal influenza vaccine would eliminate the uncertain and costly process of seasonal influenza vaccine development each year. NIAID researchers are developing immunogens that elicit neutralizing antibodies to the highly conserved stem region of the influenza viral protein hemagglutinin (HA). By targeting this highly conserved region, which is nearly identical in various strains of influenza virus, these immunogens could train the immune system to defend against a wide variety of influenza strains including pandemic strains derived from animal reservoirs.

This vaccine candidate employs a protein nanoparticle platform to display portions of the highly conserved stem region of the group 1 HA viral surface protein in its native, trimeric conformation. Animal studies have shown that the HA stem region trimers displayed on a nanoparticle are more immunogenic compared to HA stem region trimers alone. Immunization of mice and ferrets with an H1N1 nanoparticle HA stem immunogen conferred protection from a lethal dose of H5N1 virus. Read more about this exciting collaboration/licensing opportunity at: www.ott.nih.gov/technology/e-066-2014-0