Double-layered Protein Nanoparticles Conjugated with Truncated Flagellin Induce Improved Mucosal and Systemic Immune Responses in Mice

Influenza viral infection poses a severe risk to global public health. Considering the suboptimal protection provided by current influenza vaccines against circulating influenza A viruses, it is imperative to develop novel vaccine formulations to combat respiratory infections. Here, we report the development of an intranasally-administered, self-adjuvanted double-layered protein nanoparticle consisting of influenza nucleoprotein (NP) cores coated with hemagglutinin (HA) and a truncated form of bacterial flagellin (tFliC). Intranasal vaccination of these nanoparticles notably amplified both antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in the systematic compartments. Elevated antigen-specific IgA and IgG levels in mucosal washes, along with increased lung-resident memory B cell populations, were observed in the respiratory system of the immunized mice. Furthermore, intranasal vaccination of tFliC-adjuvanted nanoparticles enhanced survival rates against homologous and heterologous H3N2 viral challenges. Intriguingly, mucosal slow delivery of the prime dose (by splitting the dose into 5 applications over 8 days) significantly enhanced germinal center reactions and effector T-cell populations in lung draining lymph nodes, therefore promoting the protective efficacy against heterologous influenza viral challenges compared to single-prime immunization. These findings highlight the potential of intranasal immunization with tFliC-adjuvanted protein nanoparticles to bolster mucosal and systemic immune responses, with a slow-delivery strategy offering a promising approach for combating influenza epidemics.