Development and Characterization of Candidate Vaccine Viruses Against High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza A(H5) Viruses for Rapid Pandemic Response

The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2026 Open access

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Authors: Li Wang, Jieru Wang, Jaber Hossain, Hans C. Cooper, Cindy Adolphus, Michael Currier, Ginger Atteberry, Chenchen Feng, Marie K. Kirby, Han Di, John Barnes, Taronna R. Maines
+9 more Tracie L. Williams, John Robert Barr, Li-Mei Chen, Terrence M. Tumpey, Rubén O. Donis, C Todd Davis, Vivien G. Dugan, David E Wentworth, Bin Zhou
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiag132
Cited by: 1
References: 9

Abstract

High pathogenicity avian influenza A(H5) viruses pose a pandemic threat. These viruses have rapidly evolved in birds and frequently crossed species barriers, resulting in over 1000 confirmed human infections, with a case fatality proportion of approximately 50%. In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed dozens of A(H5) candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) over the past 2 decades, primarily targeting clades known to infect humans. This report summarizes the development and characterization of the CVVs, with a particular focus on their antigenic relationships with clades 2.3.2.1e and 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses, which have been responsible for the majority of recent human infections.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Influenza Virus Research Studies Virology and Viral Diseases Poxvirus research and outbreaks

Publication details

Journal / source
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Volume
234
Issue
2
Pages
e263–e267
Publication date
26 February 2026
Language
EN