Aerosol Inhalation of a Recombinant H7N9 Hemagglutinin Antigen Elicits Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses in Mice

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H7N9) remains a threat to poultry health and poses a zoonotic risk, highlighting the need for vaccine antigens capable of inducing both systemic and mucosal immunity. In this study, we evaluated X33CLS-H7, a clarified cell-lysate supernatant derived from glycoengineered Pichia pastoris expressing H7 hemagglutinin, in BALB/c mice following intramuscular(i.m.) injection, nebulized inhalation, or intranasal instillation. H7 expression and hemagglutination activity were confirmed by Western blotting and hemagglutination assay, respectively. Serum HA7-specific IgG and IgA responses, hemagglutination inhibition(HI) activity, H7N9 pseudovirus neutralization, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) antibodies, and safety readouts were assessed. After two i.m. immunizations, X33CLS-H7 induced the strongest systemic antibody responses, with an HI geometric mean titer of 1:1622 95% CI, 1:1108–1:2348 and a mean log10 NT50 of 4.62. Respiratory immunization also elicited antibody responses. After four doses, high-dose nebulized delivery produced the strongest responses among the respiratory delivery regimens, with serum IgG and IgA titers of 1.02 × 105 and 2.24 × 103, respectively, an endpoint HI GMT r of 1:457 95% CI, 1:211–1:971, and a mean log10 NT50 of 3.77 compared with 2.02 in saline controls. High-dose nebulized delivery also generated detectable HA7-specific IgG and IgA responses in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. No overt local or systemic toxicity signals were observed under the tested conditions. These findings indicate that X33CLS-H7 retains HA7-associated antigenicity and can induce systemic and respiratory mucosal antibody responses, supporting its further evaluation as a simplified and scalable H7N9 vaccine antigen candidate.