Intranasal immunization of recombinant Lactococcus lactis induces protection against H5N1 virus in ferrets

•Lactococcus lactis-pgsA-HA1 without the use of mucosal adjuvant.•Intranasal immunization in ferrets.•Mucosal vaccine shown safe and immunogenic.

The increasing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 viruses in birds and human bring out an urgent need to develop a safe and effective vaccine to control and prevent H5N1 infection. Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) based vaccine platform is a promising approach for mucosal H5N1 vaccine development. Intranasal immunization is the potential to induce mucosal immune response which is associated with protective immunity. To develop a safe and effective mucosal vaccine against HAPI H5N1, we extended our previous study by evaluating the immunogenicity of L. lactis-psA-HA1 in the absence of adjuvant via intranasal route in the ferret model. Ferrets administered intranasally with L. lactis-pgsA-HA1 could elicit robust humoral and mucosal immune responses, as well as significant HI titers. Importantly, ferrets were completely protected from H5N1 virus challenge. These findings suggest that L. lactis-pgsA-HA1 can be considered an alternative mucosal vaccine during A/H5N1 pandemic.