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Laboratory of Influenza Vaccines

                                 

Director  -  Liudmila M. Tsybalova, MD

Dir.  telephone:  +7 (812) 499–15–35

Lab. telephone:  +7 (812) 499–15–34

E-mail:  sovet@influenza.spb.ru

Main activities

  • Development of cross-protective influenza vaccines based on conserved viral protein regions (ectodomain of the influenza M2 protein, 2nd subunit of hemagglutinin)
  • Study of the immune response to recombinant viral proteins in experimental infection models
  • Generation of highly reproductive attenuated reassortants for influenza vaccines using the internal proteins of universal donor strain A/HongKong/1/68/162/35 and pertinent epidemic viruses
  • Creation of a collection of viral reassortants, from potentially pandemic viruses, for inactivated influenza vaccines
  • Study of the genetic factors underlying: attenuation; highly reproductive reassortants; and adaptation of viruses to laboratory animals
  • Conduct of pre-clinical studies of the safety, immunogenicity, and protective activity of vaccines
  • Assessment of the immunogenicity of vaccines during clinical trials

Federal projects

  • Bioinformatics rationale and creation of vaccine preparations based on conserved regions of the hemagglutinin second subunit from influenza A and B viruses (2015-2017)
  • Study and characterization of reassortant strains based on epidemic and potentially pandemic influenza viruses
  • Creation of a library of vaccine and production strains for pandemic vaccines (2015-2016)
  • Study of the physicochemical and immunogenic properties of virus-like particles based on the core antigen of the hepatitis B virus and the ectodomain of the influenza A virus M2 protein (2016)
  • Study of the genetic and biological properties of reassortants of potentially pandemic influenza viruses A (H2N2) and A (H7N9) and a new gene donor of internal proteins - strain A/Hong Kong/1/68/162/35 (H3N2) (2016)

Grants

  • Pre-clinical studies of recombinant influenza A vaccine based on the ectodomain of the viral M2 protein (Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, 2013-2015)
  • Development of a candidate recombinant vaccine, based on conserved hemagglutinin antigens and M2 protein, aimed at epidemic and potentially pandemic influenza viruses (Russian Science Foundation, 2015-2017)
  • Program: conduct basic research and exploratory research on priority thematic areas of investigation

Achievements

  • Two inactivated monovalent vaccines against potentially pandemic viruses A (H2N2) and A (H7N9) have been developed and successfully completed pre-clinical studies
  • Reassortants were created for vaccines against influenza A H9N2, H10N3, and H5N8; these replenished the national collection of vaccine and production strains for pandemic vaccines. A subset of the reassortants were evaluated by the Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products (Russian Ministry of Health) and deposited into the state collection of viruses.
  • The specific activities (immunogenicity and protectiveness) of improved versions of domestic vaccines (Ultrix, Flu-M, Flu-M Quadro, Grippol, Sovigripp, Microsplit) were investigated
  • Adaptation of influenza A virus (H2N2) to an animal model (mouse) strain 

Selected Publications:

  • O.K. Kuznetsov. Use of Influenza Vaccines before and during Pandemic. Epidemiology and Vaccinal Prevention. 2007(1):31–37, 2007(2):39–43 In Russian
  • O.I. Kiselev, L.M.Tsybalova. The Current state of H5N1 vaccine development in Russia and Worldwide. Avian Influenza. The Origin of Infectious Disasters. 2007. p175-181. In Russian
  • L.M. Tsybalova, O.I. Kiselev. Problems and Perspectives of Vaccinal Prophylaxis during Pandemic. Epidemiology and Vaccinal Prevention. 2007;46(3):39–47
  • L.M.Tsybalova, E.V. Timofeeva, Buzitskaya, J.V., Gudkova, T.M., Maksakova, V.L., Parkov, O.V. Epidemic Process of Rubella during Mass Vaccination of Children. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 2009;(5):47–51
  • Yu. A. Meshcheryakova, M. A. Eldarov, A. I. Migunov, L. A. Stepanova and I. A. Repko, et al. Cowpea Mosaic Virus Chimeric Particles Bearing the Ectodomain of Matrix Protein 2 (M2E) Of the Influenza a Virus: Production and Characterization. Mol Biol. 2009;43(4):741–50. In Russian
  • D.B. Golubev, O.K. Kuznetsov. The Expectation of Influenza Pandemic. Epidemiology and Vaccinal Prevention. 2009(3):5–11. In Russian
  • R.Y. Kotlyarov, V.V. Kuprianov, A.I. Migunov, L.A. Stepanova, L.M. Tsybalova, O.I. Kiselev, N.V. Ravin, K.G. Skryabin. Development Of Recombinant Vaccine Against A(H1N1) 2009 Influenza Based On Virus-Like Nanoparticles Carrying The Extracellular Domain Of M2 Protein. Acta Naturae. 2010;2(5):75–80
  • O.K. Kuznetsov, L.A. Stepanova, E.G. Golovacheva, O.V. Gashinskay. Duration of Actively Obtained Immune Response from Influenza. Med. Aсad. Journ. 2010;2(1):15–26 In Russian
  • L.M. Tsybalova, L.S. Karpova, A.B. Komissarov, M.Yu. Eropkin, M.P. Grudinin, O.I. Kiselev. Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 Pandemic In Russia. News of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. 2011 №2