Immunogenic and Protective Properties of mRNA Vaccine Encoding Hemagglutinin of Avian Influenza A/H5N8 Virus, Delivered by Lipid Nanoparticles and Needle-Free Jet Injection

Background/Objectives: The development of a vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses subtype A/H5 is an urgent task due to concerns about its pandemic potential. Methods: In this study, we have developed an experimental mRNA vaccine, mRNA-H5, encoding a modified hemagglutinin trimer of influenza virus A/turkey/Stavropol/320-01/2020 (H5N8). BALB/c mice were immunized with the mRNA-H5 vaccine using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and needle-free jet injection (JI). Subsequently, the immune response to vaccine was assessed using ELISA, microneutralization assay, and ICS methods, and a challenge study was conducted. Results: mRNA-H5 was shown to effectively stimulate specific humoral and T-cell immune responses. Moreover, mRNA-H5 delivered by LNPs and JI provided 100% protection of immunized mice against lethal challenge with homologous and heterologous strains of avian influenza virus (A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 (H5N8) and A/chicken/Magadan/14-7V/2022 (H5N1), respectively). Conclusions: The present results indicate that JI can be considered as an alternative to LNPs for mRNA delivery, and according to the literature, JI is safer than delivery using LNP. mRNA-H5 has potential as a vaccine against infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5 viruses with pandemic potential.