Comparison of protection against H5N1 influenza virus in mouse offspring provided by maternal vaccination with HA DNA and inactivated vaccine

H5N1 influenza virus is one of the viruses that can potentially cause an influenza pandemic. Protection of newborns against influenza virus infection could be effectively provided by maternal immunization. In this study, female mice were immunized with H5N1 HA DNA vaccine or inactivated whole-virion vaccine, and the protection provided by maternal antibodies in their offspring against a lethal homologous influenza virus challenge was compared. The results showed that maternal antibodies, whether induced by a DNA vaccine or an inactivated vaccine, could completely protect offspring aged 1-4 weeks from a lethal influenza virus challenge. Breast-feeding was the major route of transfer for maternal antibodies. Milk-derived antibodies were able to effectively protect the offspring aged 1-4 weeks from lethal influenza virus infection, whereas maternal antibodies transferred through the placenta only partially protected the offspring 1-2 weeks of age. The milk- and placenta-transferred IgG2a antibody levels in offspring from their mothers, whether vaccinated with DNA vaccine or inactivated vaccine, were higher than the IgG1 levels. Our results indicated that maternal vaccination with HA DNA, as well as with whole-virion inactivated vaccine, could offer effective protection to offspring against H5N1 influenza virus infection.