Immunogenicity and safety of H1N1 influenza hemagglutinin protein expressed in a baculovirus system

Abstract

Although most influenza vaccines are produced in eggs, new types of vaccines must be developed. In this study, the immunogenicity and safety of a baculovirus-expressed hemagglutinin (HA) of H1N1 influenza virus (Korea/01/2009; designated HA-Bac-K) was compared with those of a commercially available baculovirus-expressed HA (designated HA-Bac-C) and an Escherichia coli-expressed HA (designated HA-E. Coli-K). HA-Bac-K succeeded in inducing hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization antibodies in mouse and ferret models. The different immunogenicities observed may be attributable to the different expression systems and purification protocols used. Our work suggests that HA expressed in a baculovirus system is an effective and safe candidate influenza vaccine.