Evidence mapPaperPMID 41865676Full record

ArticleEBioMedicine2026

Nasal RNA-scaffold-protein vaccine protects mice from human H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus lethal infection and safeguards against vaccine-unmatched viruses.

Joy-Yan Lam, Chun-Kit Yuen, Shuk-Kwan Cheung, Pak-Him Cheung, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Kin-Hang Kok

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EBioMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Joy-Yan LamDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chun-Kit YuenDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Shuk-Kwan CheungDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Pak-Him CheungDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kwok-Yung YuenDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Pandemic Research Alliance Unit, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kin-Hang KokDepartment of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Pandemic Research Alliance Unit, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; AIDS Institute, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: khkok@hku.hk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent cases of H5N1 avian influenza spilling over into human populations have raised concerns once again about the unpredictable emergence of zoonotic viral diseases. This phenomenon highlights the persistent threat posed by viruses that jump from animals to humans, underscoring the need for preparedness for antigens that humans have not encountered. Nasal vaccines, which can effectively block transmission at the site of viral entry, represent a promising strategy and should be prioritised for stockpiling to halt zoonotic spillover.

methodsHere, we immunised a preclinical animal model intranasally with the RNA-Scaffold-Protein Vaccine (RSPVac) and evaluated mucosal immunity and protection against avian-origin and pandemic human influenza viruses.

findingsNasal immunisation of strain-specific H5N1 and H1N1 RSPVac induced strong antibody responses in serum and mucosa, accompanied by mucosal antigen-specific T cells. We examined immune cells during early vaccination and found that RSPVac induced a strong but transient cytokine expression. Neutrophils comprising both regulatory and effector subsets were observed, indicating a controlled activation. Vaccinated animals were completely protected against vaccine-matched avian virus challenges without pathological signs. Protection was also observed against vaccine-unmatched H1N1 and H7N9 challenges, with a display of trained immune cell profiles. Finally, mutant RSPVac demonstrated an impaired vaccination outcome, suggesting a complex activation mechanism.

interpretationThese findings demonstrate that RSPVac elicits potent mucosal immunity and safeguards against vaccine-unmatched infections, underscoring its potential as a non-infectious mucosal vaccine to prevent zoonotic virus transmission.

fundingThis study is supported by the Health@InnoHK initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Indexed as

Influenza A Virus, H5N1 SubtypeInfluenza, HumanInfluenza VaccinesOrthomyxoviridae InfectionsAdministration, IntranasalAnimalsAntibodies, ViralCytokinesDisease Models, AnimalFemaleHumansImmunity, MucosalMiceProtein Subunit VaccinesT-LymphocytesVaccinationAntibodies, ViralCytokinesInfluenza VaccinesProtein Subunit VaccinesAvian influenzaH5N1 2.3.4.4bMucosal vaccineNasal vaccinesZoonotic spillover

Identifiers

PMID41865676
PMCPMC13020013

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.