The presence of ssRNA in gH1-Qβ VLPs is responsible for an increased IgG2a bias in the influenza-specific antibody repertoire.

<p>Groups of five BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously at days 0 and 28 with 4 µg gH1, 10 µg gH1-Qβ(pGlu) or 10 µg gH1-Qβ, either alone or adjuvanted with Alum. Antibody responses were assayed 2 weeks post second dose. (A) Mean (and standard error) of virus neutralization titers against pH1N1. One way ANOVA on the log transformed titers was used to compare groups and the significance level set at 5%. The ANOVA test was significant and Tukey’s honest significant difference test was then used to compare between any 2 groups. Significant differences between vaccine response and PBS control are outlined with *, p<0.05. (B) Mean (and standard error) of gH1-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody isotype responses determined by ELISA. Responses are also shown as ratios of gH1-specific IgG2a:IgG1 isotype geometric mean titers, with titers defined as those dilutions that reached half the maximal OD observed for the assay.