A recent study led by a research team from the University at Buffalo has introduced a new recombinant flu vaccine, referred to as the “Hexaplex” nanoliposome, which shows promising potential to compete with existing vaccines. The vaccine is based on a nanoliposome platform called cobalt-porphyrin-phospholipid (CoPoP), which enables the display of immune response-promoting proteins on its surface, resulting in potent vaccine efficacy. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, highlights the vaccine’s ability to outperform existing vaccines in some areas, particularly in providing superior protection and survival from certain flu strains, such as H1N1 and H3N2, even when administered in low doses .
Recombinant protein vaccines, like the Novavax vaccine used to fight COVID-19, offer several advantages over conventional vaccines. They are easy to precisely produce, safe, potentially more effective, and could require smaller doses. This has led to significant interest in developing recombinant influenza vaccines. The CoPoP platform, used in the development of the Hexaplex vaccine, has also undergone phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in South Korea and the Philippines as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, showing its versatility and potential for addressing various infectious diseases .
The Hexaplex vaccine is based on a nanoliposome platform, CoPoP, which allows the display of immune response-promoting proteins on its surface, resulting in potent vaccine efficacy. The vaccine is designed to induce stronger and broader immunity, potentially reducing the likelihood of illness and death caused by influenza. The study’s lead author, Zachary Sia, emphasizes the importance of using not only hemagglutinin but also neuraminidase antigens to create vaccines, as it translates into broader immunity and the ability to create more doses with fewer materials, which is crucial for addressing potential outbreaks like COVID-19 .
Tests conducted on the Hexaplex vaccine in animal models with three common flu strains (H1N1, H3N2, and type B) have shown its superior protection and survival capabilities compared to existing vaccines. The combination of the two groups of proteins in the vaccine led to synergistic effects, particularly in the production of functional antibodies and the activation of T cells, which are critical for fighting off serious flu infections. While there is still much work to be done in fully testing and validating this flu technology, the early results are quite promising, according to senior co-author Bruce Davidson.
The development of the Hexaplex vaccine represents a significant advancement in the field of recombinant flu vaccines. Its potential to induce stronger and broader immunity, reduce the likelihood of illness and death, and outperform existing vaccines in certain areas makes it a promising candidate for addressing the variable nature of influenza viruses and potential outbreaks like COVID-19. Further research and testing will be crucial in fully validating the effectiveness and implications of this innovative flu vaccine technology.
Source: The Week
