Other influenza virion proteins present as minor antigens

Other influenza virion proteins present as minor antigens refers to the set of influenza virus proteins that are not the primary surface glycoproteins, Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) (NIH, 2023). This category encompasses internal structural proteins such as the Nucleoprotein (NP) and Matrix protein 1 (M1), the M2 ion channel, and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunits PA, PB1, and PB2 (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2018). While HA and NA are the main targets for neutralizing antibodies, these minor antigens are highly conserved across different influenza strains, making them significant targets for universal influenza vaccines designed to elicit cross-reactive T-cell responses (Journal of Virology, 2020). The M2 protein functions as a proton-selective ion channel essential for viral uncoating and was the target of adamantane antivirals, although widespread resistance has limited their current clinical utility (CDC, 2022). More recently, the polymerase complex has become a focus for new classes of inhibitors like Baloxavir marboxil, which targets the PA subunit to prevent viral replication (Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 2015).

Other names

Minor influenza antigensInternal influenza proteinsNon-HA/NA influenza proteinsInfluenza internal proteins

Inhibition of the M2 ion channel, inhibition of the viral RNA polymerase complex, or induction of cross-reactive T-cell immunity