Protection against the H1N1 influenza virus using self-assembled nanoparticles formed by lumazine synthase and bearing the M2e peptide.

There is an urgent need for influenza vaccines that offer broad cross-protection. The highly conserved ectodomain of the influenza matrix protein 2 (M2e) is a promising candidate; however, its low immunogenicity can be addressed. In this study, we developed influenza vaccines using the Lumazine synthase (LS) platform. The primary objective of this study was to determine the protective potential of M2e proteins expressed on Lumazine synthase (LS) nanoparticles. M2e-LS proteins, produced through the E. coli system, spontaneously assemble into nanoparticles. The study investigated the efficacy of the M2e-LS nanoparticle vaccine in mice. Mice immunized with M2e-LS nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher levels of intracellular cytokines than those receiving soluble M2e proteins. The M2e-LS protein exhibited robust immunogenicity and provided 100% protection against cross-clade influenza.