@article{80626dbab0cb40babac089b11bcd4f41,
title = "Highly conserved influenza A virus epitope sequences as candidates of H3N2 flu vaccine targets",
abstract = "This study focused on identifying the conserved epitopes in a single subtype A (H3N2)-as candidates for vaccine targets. We identified a total of 32 conserved epitopes in four viral proteins [22 HA, 4PB1, 3 NA, 3 NP]. Evaluation of conserved epitopes in coverage during 1968-2010 revealed that (1) 12 HA conserved epitopes were highly present in the circulating viruses; (2) the remaining 10 HA conserved epitopes appeared with lower percentage but a significantly increasing trend after 1989 [p < 0.001]; and (3) the conserved epitopes in NA, NP and PB1 are also highly frequent in wild-type viruses. These conserved epitopes also covered an extremely high percentage of the 16 vaccine strains during the 42. year period. The identification of highly conserved epitopes using our approach can also be applied to develop broad-spectrum vaccines.",
keywords = "Bioinformatics, Broad-spectrum vaccine, Epitope, Influenza virus",
author = "Wu, {Ko Wen} and Chien, {Chih Yi} and Li, {Shiao Wen} and King, {Chwan Chuen} and Chang, {Chuan Hsiung}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Dr. Chuan-Liang Kao (National Taiwan University), Dr. Yi-Ming Arthur Chen (National Yang-Ming University) and Dr. Yu-Jiun Chan (Taipei Veterans General Hospital) for providing constructive comments and suggestions that improved this paper. This study was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan ( NSC 100-2319-B-010-002 ) and the Ministry of Education, Taiwan , Aim for the Top University Plan. ",
year = "2012",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1016/j.ygeno.2012.06.003",
language = "English",
volume = "100",
pages = "102--109",
journal = "Genomics",
issn = "0888-7543",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
number = "2",
}