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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Use of an Influenza Antigen Microarray to Measure the Breadth of Serum Antibodies Across Virus Subtypes
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Use of an Influenza Antigen Microarray to Measure the Breadth of Serum Antibodies Across Virus Subtypes

Published on: July 26, 2019

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Multiplexing mRNAs builds a "broad-immunity wall" against the flu

Nicholas J Catanzaro1, David R Martinez1

  • 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Science Immunology
|January 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines encoding influenza hemagglutinin (HA) antigens from all subtypes induced broad protection. This approach offers a promising strategy for universal influenza immunization.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Influenza viruses pose a significant global health threat.
  • Current influenza vaccines offer strain-specific protection, requiring annual updates.
  • Developing broadly protective influenza vaccines remains a critical unmet need.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines encoding diverse influenza hemagglutinin (HA) antigens.
  • To assess the potential of a universal influenza vaccine strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Construction and delivery of mRNA encoding HA antigens from all known influenza subtypes and lineages.
  • Immunization of animal models with the candidate mRNA vaccines.
  • Assessment of antibody responses, including cross-reactivity against various influenza strains.
  • Evaluation of protection against homologous and heterologous influenza virus challenge.

Main Results:

  • Delivery of mRNAs encoding influenza HA antigens elicited robust and cross-reactive antibody responses.
  • Vaccination conferred significant protection against homologous and heterologous influenza virus challenge.
  • The breadth of HA subtypes included in the mRNA vaccine formulation was critical for broad immunity.

Conclusions:

  • mRNA vaccines encoding a comprehensive set of influenza HA antigens can induce cross-reactive and protective immunity.
  • This mRNA-based approach represents a promising platform for developing a universal influenza vaccine.
  • Further development of this strategy could revolutionize influenza prevention efforts.

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