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Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and...
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Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and to Prevent and Control Infection

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Influenza Virus Vaccines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 15322

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Neda Barjesteh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Interests: antiviral responses; innate immune responses; respiratory viral infections; host–virus interactions; avian; exosome; miRNA regulation of the immune system; avian influenza virus; vaccine development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Avian influenza virus infection (AIV) has spread worldwide spread, and is a highly contagious disease which can affect a wide variety of birds and mammals. AIV infection is one of the greatest causes for recent concerns to public health and the economy worldwide.

AIV has been considered to be one of the most high-priority pathogens and an economically important poultry virus. Despite the extensive research in recent decades to improve vaccine efficacies, surveillance methods, and biosecurity measures to control viral respiratory infections in poultry, recent outbreaks of AIVs have provoked notable concerns about the available measures and resources for controlling the spread of the virus and preventing disease.

Due to the importance of public health concerns of avian influenza virus and its potential economic consequences, we would like to present this Special Issue documenting the recent progress in understanding of host–virus interactions and research efforts focused on developing effective vaccines and prophylactic strategies as well as novel approaches to tailor favorable host antiviral responses to control diseases that are caused by AIV.

Dr. Neda Barjesteh
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Avian influenza virus
  • control
  • biosecurity measures
  • vaccine development
  • novel control strategies
  • antiviral immuen responses

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4370 KiB  
Article
Targeting Haemagglutinin Antigen of Avian Influenza Virus to Chicken Immune Cell Receptors Dec205 and CD11c Induces Differential Immune-Potentiating Responses
by Angita Shrestha, Jean-Remy Sadeyen, Deimante Lukosaityte, Pengxiang Chang, Marielle Van Hulten and Munir Iqbal
Vaccines 2021, 9(7), 784; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9070784 - 13 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3820
Abstract
Improving the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of vaccines is critical to reducing disease impacts. One strategy used to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines is the selective delivery of protective antigens to the antigen presenting cells (APCs). In this study, we have developed a [...] Read more.
Improving the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of vaccines is critical to reducing disease impacts. One strategy used to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines is the selective delivery of protective antigens to the antigen presenting cells (APCs). In this study, we have developed a targeted antigen delivery vaccine (TADV) system by recombinantly fusing the ectodomain of hemagglutinin (HA) antigen of H9N2 influenza A virus to single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies specific for the receptors expressed on chicken APCs; Dec205 and CD11c. Vaccination of chickens with TADV containing recombinant H9HA Foldon-Dec205 scFv or H9HA Foldon-CD11c scFv proteins elicited faster (as early as day 6 post primary vaccination) and higher anti-H9HA IgM and IgY, haemagglutination inhibition, and virus neutralisation antibodies compared to the untargeted H9HA protein. Comparatively, CD11c scFv conjugated H9HA protein showed higher immunogenic potency compared to Dec205 scFv conjugated H9HA protein. The higher immune potentiating ability of CD11c scFv was also reflected in ex-vivo chicken splenocyte stimulation assay, whereby H9HA Foldon-CD11c scFv induced higher levels of cytokines (IFNγ, IL6, IL1β, and IL4) compared to H9HA Foldon-Dec205 scFv. Overall, the results conclude that TADV could be a better alternative to the currently available inactivated virus vaccines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and to Prevent and Control Infection)
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14 pages, 1728 KiB  
Article
Probiotic Lactobacilli Limit Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H9N2 Replication in Chicken Cecal Tonsil Mononuclear Cells
by Nadiyah Alqazlan, Mohammadali Alizadeh, Nitish Boodhoo, Khaled Taha-Abdelaziz, Eva Nagy, Byram Bridle and Shayan Sharif
Vaccines 2020, 8(4), 605; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8040605 - 13 Oct 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3285
Abstract
Low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H9N2 poses significant threat to animal and human health. The growing interest in beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria on host immune system has led to research efforts studying their interaction with cells of host immune system. However, [...] Read more.
Low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H9N2 poses significant threat to animal and human health. The growing interest in beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria on host immune system has led to research efforts studying their interaction with cells of host immune system. However, the role of lactobacilli in inducing antiviral responses in lymphoid tissue cells requires further investigation. The objective of the present study was to examine the antiviral and immunostimulatory effects of lactobacilli bacteria on chicken cecal tonsils (CT) cells against H9N2 LPAIV. CT mononuclear cells were stimulated with probiotic Lactobacillus spp mixture either alone or in combination with a Toll-like receptor (TLR)21 ligand, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG). Pre-treatment of CT cells with probiotic lactobacilli, alone or in combination with CpG, significantly reduced H9N2 LPAIV replication. Furthermore, lactobacilli alone elicited cytokine expression, including IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12, and IL-10, while when combined with CpG, a significantly higher expression of (interferon-stimulated gene (viperin)), IL-12, IL-6, CXCLi2, and IL-1β was observed. However, none of these treatments induced significant changes in nitric oxide production by CT cells. In conclusion, probiotic lactobacilli demonstrated a modulatory effect on CT cells, and this correlated with enhanced antiviral immunity and reduced H9N2 LPAIV viral replication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and to Prevent and Control Infection)
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13 pages, 1521 KiB  
Article
Anti-Influenza Protective Efficacy of a H6 Virus-Like Particle in Chickens
by Wan-Zhen Zhu, Yi-Chi Wen, Shu-Yi Lin, Ting-Chih Chen and Hui-Wen Chen
Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 465; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8030465 - 21 Aug 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3275
Abstract
H6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have a worldwide distribution, and they pose a potential concern for public health. In Taiwan, H6 AIVs have circulated in domestic chickens for more than 40 years, and certain strains have crossed the species barrier to infect mammals. [...] Read more.
H6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have a worldwide distribution, and they pose a potential concern for public health. In Taiwan, H6 AIVs have circulated in domestic chickens for more than 40 years, and certain strains have crossed the species barrier to infect mammals. With the goal of containing the disease, there is a pressing need to develop a safe and effective vaccine for pandemic preparedness. In this study, we prepared a virus-like particle (VLP) that consisted of the hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix protein 1 (M1) derived from a H6 AIV as a vaccine antigen, and we examined the immunogenicity and protective efficacy when combined with an adjuvant in a chicken model. Full-length HA and M1 protein genes were cloned and expressed using a baculovirus expression system, and VLPs were purified from the supernatant of insect cell cultures. We performed nanoparticle-tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy to validate that the particle structure and properties resembled the native virions. In animal experiments, specific-pathogen-free chickens that received the H6 VLPs in combination with an adjuvant showed superior H6N1 virus-specific serum IgG and hemagglutination-inhibition antibody responses, which lasted more than 112 days. Following the H6N1 viral challenge, the vaccinated chickens showed reduced viral replication in the lungs, kidneys and conjunctival/cloacal shedding. The antibodies induced in the chickens by the vaccine were able to cross-react with the H6N1 human isolate and drifted avian H6N1 isolates. In summary, the H6 VLP vaccine elicited superb immunogenicity in vivo, and the use of an adjuvant further enhanced the antiviral protective efficacy. This vaccine formulation could potentially be used to manage H6 influenza virus infections in chickens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and to Prevent and Control Infection)
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31 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Distinct miRNA Profile of Cellular and Extracellular Vesicles Released from Chicken Tracheal Cells Following Avian Influenza Virus Infection
by Kelsey O’Dowd, Mehdi Emam, Mohamed Reda El Khili, Amin Emad, Eveline M. Ibeagha-Awemu, Carl A. Gagnon and Neda Barjesteh
Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 438; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8030438 - 05 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4257
Abstract
Innate responses provide the first line of defense against viral infections, including the influenza virus at mucosal surfaces. Communication and interaction between different host cells at the early stage of viral infections determine the quality and magnitude of immune responses against the invading [...] Read more.
Innate responses provide the first line of defense against viral infections, including the influenza virus at mucosal surfaces. Communication and interaction between different host cells at the early stage of viral infections determine the quality and magnitude of immune responses against the invading virus. The release of membrane-encapsulated extracellular vesicles (EVs), from host cells, is defined as a refined system of cell-to-cell communication. EVs contain a diverse array of biomolecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). We hypothesized that the activation of the tracheal cells with different stimuli impacts the cellular and EV miRNA profiles. Chicken tracheal rings were stimulated with polyI:C and LPS from Escherichia coli 026:B6 or infected with low pathogenic avian influenza virus H4N6. Subsequently, miRNAs were isolated from chicken tracheal cells or from EVs released from chicken tracheal cells. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in treated groups when compared to the control group. Our results demonstrated that there were 67 up-regulated miRNAs, 157 down-regulated miRNAs across all cellular and EV samples. In the next step, several genes or pathways targeted by DE miRNAs were predicted. Overall, this study presented a global miRNA expression profile in chicken tracheas in response to avian influenza viruses (AIV) and toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. The results presented predicted the possible roles of some DE miRNAs in the induction of antiviral responses. The DE candidate miRNAs, including miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-205a, miR-205b and miR-449, can be investigated further for functional validation studies and to be used as novel prophylactic and therapeutic targets in tailoring or enhancing antiviral responses against AIV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Influenza Virus: New Strategies to Elicit Immune Responses and to Prevent and Control Infection)
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