An elastase-dependent attenuated heterologous swine influenza virus protects against pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza challenge in swine

Influenza virus infections continue to cause production losses in the agricultural industry in addition to being a human public health concern. The primary method to control influenza is through vaccination. However, currently used killed influenza virus vaccines must be closely matched to the challenge virus. The ability of an elastase-dependent live attenuated influenza A virus was evaluated to protect pigs against the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus. Pigs vaccinated intranasally or intratracheally with the elastase-dependent swine influenza virus (SIV) vaccine had significantly reduced macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions and lower viral loads in the lung and in nasal swabs. Thus, elastase-dependent SIV mutants can be used as live-virus vaccines against swine influenza in pigs. In addition, low levels of cross-neutralizing antibodies to H1N1 2009 were elicited prior to challenge by the swine adapted H1N1 avian strain vaccine.