Human adaptation of H3 influenza
The present invention provides, among other things, technologies and methodologies for detection, treatment, and/or prevention of influenza transmission and/or infection. The present invention also provides technologies for monitoring influenza variants for their potential to present a pandemic risk to humans.
1. A vaccine composition comprising (i) engineered HA antigenic components; or (ii) antigens, in each case from a plurality of influenza strains, which plurality comprises:
A/Hong Kong/1/1968 (H3N2);
A circulating avian H3 influenza strain; and
A circulating swine H3 influenza strain.
2. A method of vaccinating a human population against influenza infection, the method comprising steps of:
administering the vaccine composition of claim 1 to members of a population upon detection of an H3 HA polypeptide showing at least 50% AI with A/Aichi/2/1968 (H3N2).
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of administering comprises administering to a subject when the detection is in a sample from the subject.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detection was in an environmental sample.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the engineered HA antigenic components is or comprises attenuated virus.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the engineered HA antigenic components is or comprises an isolated HA polypeptide.