Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) impacts innate and adaptive immune responses

Influenza A infection induces a massive inflammatory response in the lungs that leads to significant illness and increases the susceptibility to secondary bacterial pneumonia. The most efficient way to prevent influenza infection is through vaccination. While inactivated vaccines induce protective levels of serum antibodies to influenza hemaglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface proteins, these are strain specific and offer little protection against heterosubtypic influenza viruses. In contrast, live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) induce a T cell response in addition to antibody responses against HA and NA surface proteins. Importantly, LAIV vaccination induces a response in a mouse model that protects against illness due to heterosubtypic influenza strains. While it is not completely clear what is the mechanism of action of LAIV heterosubtypic protection in humans, it has been shown that LAIV induces heterosubtypic protection in mice that is dependent upon a Type 1 immune response and requires CD8 T cells. In this study, we show that LAIV-induced immunity leads to significantly reduced viral titers and inflammatory responses in the lungs of mice following heterosubtypic infection. Not only are viral titers reduced in LAIV vaccinated mice, the amounts of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in lung tissue are significantly lower. Additionally, we show that LAIV vaccination of healthy adults also induces a robust Type 1 memory response including the production of chemokines and cytokines involved in T cell activation and recruitment. Thus, our results indicate that LAIV vaccination functions by inducing immune memory which can act to modulate the immune response to subsequent heterosubtypic challenge by influencing both innate and adaptive responses.     

Influenza A whole virion vaccine induces a rapid reduction of peripheral blood leukocytes via interferon-α-dependent apoptosis

Infection with single strand RNA (ssRNA) viruses, such as influenza A virus, is known to induce protective acquired immune responses, including the production of neutralizing antibodies. Vaccination also causes a reduction in the number of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) shortly after inoculation, a result which may have undesirable adverse effects. The cellular mechanisms for this response have not been elucidated so far. Here we report that formalin-inactivated influenza A whole virus vaccine (whole virion) induces a significant decrease in PBL in mice 5–16 h after administration, whereas an ether-split vaccine (HA split) made from the same influenza virus strain does not induce a similar loss of PBL. Concordant with this reduction in the number of PBL, a rapidly induced and massive production of interferon (IFN)-α is observed when mice are injected with whole virion, but not with HA split vaccines. The role of Toll-like receptors (TLR), which are involved in signal transduction of influenza virus, and the subsequent induction of IFNα were confirmed using mice lacking TLR7, MyD-88, or IFNα/β receptor. We further demonstrated that the observed PBL loss is caused by apoptosis in an IFNα-dependent manner, and not by leukocyte redistribution due to chemokine signaling failure. These findings indicate that RNA-encapsulated whole virion vaccines can rapidly induce a loss of leukocytes from peripheral blood by apoptosis, which may modulate the subsequent immune response.     

Development and characterization of chitosan coated poly-(ɛ-caprolactone) nanoparticulate system for effective immunization against influenza

In this study surface coated poly-(?-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles with chitosan (CS) were developed as a carrier system for nasal immunization using recombinant Influenza A virus (A/California/07/2009) H1N1 hemagglutinin (HA) protein, for the induction of humoral, cellular and mucosal immunity. CS coated PCL (CS-PCL) nanoparticles were characterized in vitro for their percent yield, size, shape, entrapment efficiency, loading capacity and zeta potential. The in vitro release and antigen integrity were also evaluated. Particles were prepared by an emulsion-diffusion-solvent evaporation method. The coated cationic nanoparticles of average size 125.64 ± 6.51 nm with a narrow size distribution (pdi: 0.185 ± 0.032) and a positive surface charge (+22.88 mV) were obtained. HA antigen was efficiently entrapped in CS-PCL nanoparticles (entrapment efficiency 74.84 ± 4.51%, loading capacity 14 ± 2% (w/w)). The molecular weight and antigenicity of the entrapped HA was maintained as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, respectively. In vitro release study of antigen showed that about 66.47% of entrapped antigen was released within 63 days. The immune-stimulating activity was studied by measuring hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titer, IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a titer, secretory IgA level in nasal and lung lavage (mucosal secretions) following nasal administration of modified CS-PCL nanoparticles in Balb/c mice and compared with soluble HA antigen administered intramuscular (IM) and with PCL (uncoated) nanoparticles administered intranasal (IN). The numbers of IFN-γ or IL-4 secreting cells in spleen homogenates were also measured 21 day after third immunization. Single IN or IM immunization with antigen-loaded CS-PCL nanoparticles resulted in strong HAI and total IgG responses. These responses were higher than those achieved after booster IM administration of the subunit antigen, whereas the IgG1/IgG2a profile did not change substantially. The IN administered antigen-CS-PCL nanoparticles induced higher immune responses compared to the other IN antigen formulations, and these responses were enhanced by IN booster vaccinations. Moreover, IM administered soluble HA antigen did not elicit s-IgA in mucosal secretions as it was induced and measured in the case of nasal administration of CS-PCL nanoparticles. In contrast to IM administered antigen CS-PCL nanoparticles induced a balanced Th1 and Th2 response. CS-PCL nanoparticles (cationic nanoparticles) thus produced humoral (both systemic and mucosal) and cellular immune responses upon nasal administration. These findings demonstrate high potential of CS-PCL nanoparticles for their use as a carrier adjuvant for nasal administered influenza antigens.     

Characterization of humoral and cell-mediated immunity induced by mRNA vaccines expressing influenza hemagglutinin stem and nucleoprotein in mice and nonhuman primates

In response to immune pressure, influenza viruses evolve, producing drifted variants capable of escaping immune recognition. One strategy for inducing a broad-spectrum immune response capable of recognizing multiple antigenically diverse strains is to target conserved proteins or protein domains. To that end, we assessed the efficacy and immunogenicity of mRNA vaccines encoding either the conserved stem domain of a group 1 hemagglutinin (HA), a group 2 nucleoprotein (NP), or a combination of the two antigens in mice, as well as evaluated immunogenicity in naïve and influenza seropositive nonhuman primates (NHPs). HA stem-immunized animals developed a robust anti-stem antibody binding titer, and serum antibodies recognized antigenically distinct group 1 HA proteins. These antibodies showed little to no neutralizing activity in vitro but were active in an assay measuring induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. HA-directed cell-mediated immunity was weak following HA stem mRNA vaccination; however, robust CD4 and CD8 T cell responses were detected in both mice and NHPs after immunization with mRNA vaccines encoding NP. Both HA stem and NP mRNA vaccines partially protected mice from morbidity following lethal influenza virus challenge, and superior efficacy against two different H1N1 strains was observed when the antigens were combined. In vivo T cell depletion suggested that anti-NP cell-mediated immunity contributed to protection in the mouse model. Taken together, these data show that mRNA vaccines encoding conserved influenza antigens, like HA stem and NP in combination, induce broadly reactive humoral responses as well as cell-mediated immunity in mice and NHPs, providing protection against homologous and heterologous influenza infection in mice.     

Analysis of epitope recognition of antibodies induced by DNA immunization against hemagglutinin protein of influenza A virus

In an effort to find efficient DNA vaccine candidates, cDNA of influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) gene and several derived mutants were injected into mice using a gene gun. Mice immunized with HA1 DNA, with or without a membrane domain, showed a humoral immune response and the survival rate against homologous virus challenge was comparable to that of mice injected with HA DNA. In order to analyze epitopes recognized by antibodies induced by gene gun immunization, we used a binding assay employing the chimeric HA protein method. Serum antibodies of mice immunized with HA DNA recognized the HA1 domain but not the HA2 domain. In addition, antisera obtained from mice immunized with HA1 DNA reacted with each of the known antigenic sites on the HA1 domain, similar to the results obtained with HA DNA immunization.     

北京市1998-2004年婴幼儿A3型流感病毒分离株HA1基因序列分析

目的 了解1998-2004年北京地区婴幼儿中流行的A3（H3N2）亚型流感病毒血凝素基因HA1区的基因变异特点。方法 提取该期间采集的呼吸道标本中H3N2亚型流感病毒的RNA，经逆转录多聚酶链反应扩增得到HA1区基因片段。通过目的基因的克隆、测序或PCR产物直接测序，进行序列分析。结果 19982004年问北京地区婴幼儿中流行的H3N2亚型流感病毒血凝素HA1区基因均为987bp，编码一个含329个氨基酸的蛋白质。这些H3N2亚型流感病毒血凝素HA1区的核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别在95．5％～100．0％和93．0％～100．0％之间，分离年份越近同源性越高。在HA1区有7个糖基化位点非常保守，分别位于8、22、38、63、126、165和285位氨基酸。与1997年以前的毒株相比，1997年以后的毒株均在122和133位增加了一个糖基化位点。自1999年以后的毒株均在144位增加了一个糖基化位点。每年流行的毒株都较前一年的毒株出现了位于不同抗原决定簇或者受体结合位点的氨基酸替换。进化分析显示，每年分离的毒株均与以前的毒株出现了不同程度的变化，不断出现新的进化分支。结论 1998—2004年间北京地区婴幼儿中流行的H3N2亚型流感病毒持续不断地发生着点突变，导致抗原性不断发生漂移。加强监测和密切关注其变异动向对防控流感流行有极其重要的意义。     

Superior efficacy of a recombinant flagellin:H5N1 HA globular head vaccine is determined by the placement of the globular head within flagellin

Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) between birds and humans is an ongoing threat that holds potential for the emergence of a pandemic influenza strain. A major barrier to an effective vaccine against avian influenza has been the generally poor immunopotency of many of the HPAI strains coupled with the manufacturing constraints employing conventional methodologies. Fusion of flagellin, a toll-like receptor-5 ligand, to vaccine antigens has been shown to enhance the immune response to the fused antigen in preclinical studies. Here, we have evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a panel of flagellin-based hemagglutinin (HA) globular head fusion vaccines in inbred mice. The HA globular head of these vaccines is derived from the A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN04; H5N1) HA molecule. We find that replacement of domain D3 of flagellin with the VN04 HA globular head creates a highly effective vaccine that elicits protective HAI titers which protect mice against disease and death in a lethal challenge model.     

Efficacy of a vaccine that links viral epitopes to flagellin in protecting aged mice from influenza viral infection

Influenza vaccines are less effective in older people than younger people. This impaired ability to protect older people from influenza viral lung infection has important implications as older people suffer a higher morbidity and mortality from influenza viral lung infection than younger people. Therefore, the development of novel effective vaccines that induce protection from influenza viral infections in older people are urgently needed. We had previously shown that direct linking the TLR5 activator, flagellin, to viral peptides induces effective immunity to viral antigens in young mice and people, respectively. In this study, we tested the efficacy of this vaccine platform with the hemagglutinin peptide of the influenza A strain virus (vaccine denoted as STF2.HA1-2) in protecting aged mice from subsequent influenza viral lung infection. We found that a 3.0 μg dose of the vaccine was effective in reducing mortality and increasing clinical well-being during influenza viral lung infection in aged mice. However, this effect was inferior to the response induced in young mice. Defects in the adaptive immune system but not the innate immune system were associated with this reduced effectiveness of the vaccine with aging. Our results indicate that the STF2.HA1-2 vaccine is effective in protecting aged hosts from influenza lung infection, although defects in the adaptive immune system with aging may limit the effectiveness of this vaccine in older people.     

Influenza virus antigens conjugated with a synthetic polyelectrolyte: a novel model of vaccines

Haemagglutinin (HA), a mixture of haemagglutinin and neuraminidase (HA + NA), and matrix (M) protein were isolated from the influenza A virus and covalently coupled to a synthetic polyelectrolyte (P). A single injection into mice of the resultant conjugates (virogates) brought about efficient stimulation of the primary immune response specific to the corresponding viral antigens. Mice immunized with virogates HA · P or (HA + NA) · P were largely protected against a lethal challenge infection with homologous virus. Immunization of mice with M · P virogate containing M protein originated from a 1934 influenza strain resulted in pronounced protection against a lethal challenge infection with a 1980 strain. Virogates are discussed as a novel model of artificial vaccines.     

Hemagglutinin Displayed Baculovirus Protects Against Highly Pathogenic Influenza

Baculovirus (BV) replicating in insect cells can express a foreign gene product as part of its genome. The influenza hemagglutinin (HA) can be expressed from BV and displayed on the surface of baculovirus (HA-DBV). In this study we first generated six recombinant baculoviruses that expressed chimeric HAs with segments of the BV glycoprotein (gp64). The signal peptide (SP) and cytoplasmic tail (CT) domains of gp64 can enhance the display of HA from A/PR8/34 on BV surface, while the transmembrane (TM) domain of gp64 impairs HA display. Different doses of either live or β-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated HA-DBV were administered to BALB/c mice. Live HA-DBV elicited higher hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) titers than BPL-inactivated HA-DBV, and provided sterilizing protection. A second generation recombinant BV simultaneously displaying four HAs derived from four subclades of H5N1 influenza viruses was constructed. This tetravalent H5N1 HA-DBV vaccine elicited HAI titers against all four homologous H5N1 viruses, significantly decreasing viral lung titers of challenged mice and providing 100% protection against lethal doses of homologous H5N1 viruses. Moreover, mice vaccinated with HA-DBV had high levels of IFNγ-secreting and HA-specific CD8+ T cells. Taken together, this study demonstrates that HA-DBV can stimulate strong humoral, as well as cellular immune responses, and is an effective vaccine candidate for influenza.     

Evaluation of conserved and variable influenza antigens for immunization against different isolates of H5N1 viruses

The combination of rapid evolution and high mortality in human cases of infections has raised concerns that the H5N1 avian influenza virus may become a new, possibly severe, pandemic virus. Vaccination is likely to be the most efficient strategy to mitigate the impact of the next influenza pandemic. The present study evaluates B and T cell immune responses generated by the H5N1 viral antigens, hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), nucleoprotein (NP), or the M2 ion channel in parallel, expressed from a DNA vaccine vehicle. Protection studies of immunized mice challenged with 100 LD50 of homologous or heterologous H5N1 viruses indicate that HA afforded better protection than the NA, NP or M2 DNA vaccines. The antibody response was also higher in HA-vaccinated mice as determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralizing antibodies (NAB) assays. Interestingly, the T cell response was higher against HA than against NA, NP or M2 and was detectable at low doses of the DNA–HA vaccine capable of inducing complete protection, despite the absence of a detectable B cell response. This study emphasizes the need to evaluate the relationship between both arms of the adaptive immune responses in regards to protective efficacy against influenza virus.     

南平市2009年季节性H1N1流感病毒血凝素HA1基因特征研究

目的了解南平市2009年季节性H1N1流感病毒血凝素HA1基因特征。方法随机选取4株从哨点医院分离到的季节性H1N1流感毒株,进行核酸提取和RT-PCR扩增,获得HA1基因片段,测定核苷酸序列,分析其基因特征。结果 4株季节性H1N1流感病毒与A/California/01/2009（H1N1）高度同源,同源性高达99.1%;相对于当前疫苗代表株A/Brisbane/59/2007（H1N1）,其HA1区出现V131A、S141N、I184V、G185A、N186D、A189T和F260Y的氨基酸位点的改变;糖基化位点未发生改变。结论南平市2009年分离的季节性H1N1流感病毒抗原性发生一定的突变,但变异程度不大,应密切关注疫苗株对毒株的免疫效果。     

2000—2007年佛山市甲1亚型（H1N1）流感病毒监测情况及其HA1基因的变异

目的分析2000—2007年佛山市甲1亚型（H1N1）毒株流行情况及其HA1基因变异情况。方法用MDCK细胞分离流感病毒，采用血球凝集抑制试验进行型别鉴定，选取每年2～4株甲1亚型毒株的细胞培养物提取病毒核酸，进行HA1基因的逆转录，对其核苷酸和氨基酸序列及亲缘关系进行分析。结果病毒分离结果显示2000—2007年间甲1亚型流感病毒在佛山市人群中的流行是间断性的，只在2000、2001、2005、2006年4个年份分离到甲1亚型流感毒株。毒株的HAl区氨基酸序列与流感疫苗推荐株A／NewCMedonia／20／99和A／Solomon Islands／3／2006相比，同源性分别为97．2％～99．7％和97．2％-98．5％。氨基酸残基平均替换数随年份的推移而增加，只有2006年的毒株在抗原决定簇发生了替换。结论与疫苗株比较，佛山市的甲1亚型流感毒株抗原性已逐渐发生了改变，应密切注意疫苗对毒株的免疫效果。     

Innate immunemodulator containing adjuvant formulated HA based vaccine protects mice from lethal infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses and their spillover into the human population pose substantial economic and public health threats. Although antiviral drugs have some effect in treating influenza infection, vaccination is still the most effective intervention to prevent possible pandemic outbreaks. We have developed a novel H5 influenza vaccine to improve the world’s pandemic preparedness. We produced a hemagglutinin (HA) of HPAI H5N1 virus A/Alberta/01/2014 (AB14) using both mammalian (m) and bacterial (b) expression systems. The purified recombinant proteins were formulated with a proprietary adjuvant (TriAdj) and their efficacy as vaccine candidates was evaluated in mice. Intramuscular delivery of two doses of TriAdj formulated mammalian expressed HA (m-HA/TriAdj) was shown to provide full protection against a lethal challenge of AB14 in mice. In contrast, bacterially expressed HA with TriAdj (b-HA/TriAdj), b-HA without adjuvant, and m-HA without adjuvant resulted in no protection in immunized mice. Furthermore, m-HA/TriAdj elicited significantly higher levels of balanced Th1 and Th2 responses and neutralizing antibody titres. All the mice in the m-HA/TriAdj group survived a lethal AB14 H5N1 challenge and showed no signs of disease or infection as demonstrated by no loss of body weight or detectable virus in the lungs. Our results suggest that m-HA formulated with TriAdj has potential to protect against pandemic H5N1 in the event of its cross over to the human host.     

DNA fusion vaccines incorporating IL-23 or RANTES for use in immunization against influenza

The incorporation of RANTES or IL-23 into DNA vaccines may improve their immunogenicity by the recruitment and activation of dendritic cells. This may also select for a TH1 response counteracting the TH2 response which can predominate when a DNA vaccine is delivered by gene gun. We have immunized mice with various DNA constructs encoding APR/8/34 influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA), either fused to or separate from, IL-23 or RANTES using a gene gun. Those immunized with IL-23/HA fusion constructs and challenged with influenza 27 weeks post-vaccination, tended to have cleared more virus than those vaccinated with HA DNA. Mice immunized with the RANTES/HA fusion construct produced a mixed TH1/TH2 response whereas in HA-vaccinated mice, a TH2 response predominated. Immunization with a plasmid in which HA and RANTES were under the control of separate promoters, failed to generate a mixed TH1/TH2 response suggesting that enhanced antigen uptake via RANTES receptors may contribute to the mixed immune response generated to the fusion construct. Overall these findings provide further evidence that Type 1 cytokines or chemokines, fused to antigen in a DNA vaccine, can influence the nature and the longevity of the immune response and ultimately, its protective capacity.     

Prime–boost vaccination with a fowlpox vector and an inactivated avian influenza vaccine is highly immunogenic in Pekin ducks challenged with Asian H5N1 HPAI

The efficacy of different vaccination schedules was evaluated in 17-day-old Pekin ducks using an experimental inactivated whole virus vaccine based on the H5N9 A/chicken/Italy/22A/98 isolate (H5N9-It) and/or a fowlpox recombinant (vFP-H5) expressing a synthetic HA gene from an Asian H5N1 isolate (A/chicken/Indonesia/7/2003). Full protection against clinical signs and shedding was induced by the different vaccination schemes. However, the broadest antibody response and the lowest antibody increase after challenge were observed in the group of ducks whose immune system was primed with the fowlpox vectored vaccine and boosted with the inactivated vaccine, suggesting that this prime-boost strategy induced optimal immunity against H5N1 and minimal viral replication after challenge in ducks. In addition, this prime-boost vaccination scheme was shown to be immunogenic in 1-day-old ducklings.     

Evaluation of hyaluronic acid-based combination adjuvant containing monophosphoryl lipid A and aluminum salt for hepatitis B vaccine

Here, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and aluminum salt (Alum) were introduced into a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based combination vaccine adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). Although Alum is a well-known hepatitis B vaccine adjuvant that induces an enhanced humoral immune response, it cannot induce the cellular immune responses. On the other hand, MPLA has been generally reported to promote IFN-γ production via antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells, but it is not water soluble as a result of its long hydrophobic alkyl chains. To this end, water insoluble MPLA could be solubilized in an aqueous solution with the help of HA, which contains many carboxyl and hydroxyl groups that can be used to attach to the hydroxyl head groups of MPLA via hydrogen bonds. Three groups of mice were treated with either hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) alone, HBsAg_Alum complex, or HBsAg_Alum_MPLA/HA complex. The group immunized with the HBsAg_Alum_MPLA/HA complex exhibited a high increase in cellular immune response as well as in humoral immune response relative to the other two groups. The antibody, cytokine and T cell levels were most elevated in the group of mice immunized with HBsAg_Alum_MPLA/HA complex, even at a 1 μg/mice dose, and the magnitude was still maintained even after 8 weeks. Specifically, the antibody value was 120 times larger in mice vaccinated with HBsAg_Alum_MPLA/HA complex than in mice vaccinated with HBsAg_Alum complex designed similar to commercially available hepatitis B vaccine, Engerix B. The cytokine and T cell proliferation levels were 2 times and 6 times larger in mice adjuvanted with HBsAg_Alum_MPLA/HA complex than in those vaccinated with HBsAg_Alum. The results therefore indicate that incorporating MPLA and Alum with HA can be a potent strategy to increase both the magnitude and the persistence of HBsAg-specific immune responses to protect hosts against hepatitis B virus infection.     

Subunit vaccines based on recombinant yeast protect against influenza A virus in a one-shot vaccination scheme

Here we report on new subunit vaccines based on recombinant yeast of the type Kluyveromyces lactis (K. lactis), which protect mice from a lethal influenza A virus infection. Applying a genetic system that enables the rapid generation of transgenic yeast, we have developed K. lactis strains that express the influenza A virus hemagglutinin, HA, either individually or in combination with the viral M1 matrix protein. Subcutaneous application of the inactivated, but otherwise non-processed yeast material shows a complete protection of BALB/c mice in prime/boost and even one-shot/single dose vaccination schemes against a subsequent, lethal challenge with the cognate influenza virus. The yeast vaccines induce titers of neutralizing antibodies that are readily comparable to those induced by an inactivated virus vaccine. These data suggest that HA and M1 are produced with a high antigenicity in the yeast cells. Based on these findings, multivalent, DIVA-capable, yeast-based subunit vaccines may be developed as promising alternatives to conventional virus-based anti-flu vaccines for veterinary applications.     

The immune response of a recombinant fowlpox virus coexpressing the HA gene of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and chicken interleukin 6 gene in ducks

Ducks have played an important role in the emergence of H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the development of an effective vaccine against HPAI in ducks is a top priority. It has been shown that a recombinant fowlpox virus (FPV)-vectored vaccine can provide protection against HPAI in ducks. In this study, a recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV-AIH5AIL6) coexpressing the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of the H5N1 subtype of the avian influenza virus (AIV) and chicken interleukin 6 gene was constructed and tested in Gaoyou and cherry valley ducks to evaluate the immune response in ducks. These animal studies demonstrated that rFPV-AIH5AIL6 induced a higher anti-AIV HI antibody response, an enhanced lymphocyte proliferation response, an elevated immune protection, and a reduction in virus shedding compared to a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing the HA gene alone (rFPV-SYHA). These data indicate that rFPV-AIH5AIL6 may be a potential vaccine against the H5 subtype of avian influenza in ducks and chicken interleukin 6 may be an effective adjuvant for increasing the immunogenicity of FPV-vectored AIV vaccines in ducks.