Development of live cultural pandemic influenza vaccine Vector-Flu

Background The threat of pandemic A/H1N1 influenza remains a matter of considerable public concern. Recent influenza outbreaks underline the importance of rapid production of a reserve of vaccine sufficient for pandemic and interpandemic periods. Traditional vaccines intended for seasonal influenza do not satisfy this demand, because they are unable to induce cross-reactive antibodies to pandemic flu. Live influenza vaccines made in the cell culture offer potential advantages because it is possible to produce a considerable amount of these vaccines over a short period. Their use eliminate concerns about allergic reactions to egg proteins, and they allow the antigenic composition of the vaccine to be closer to the circulating influenza virus strains. The goal of this work was to develop a live attenuated vaccine against pandemic influenza, Vector-Flu, derived from cold-adapted strain A/17/California/2009/38 (H1N1) and to study the immunogenic and protective properties of the vaccine using ferrets and mice.