Scientists close to 'universal' flu shot
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A STUDY of antibodies from people infected with H1N1 swine flu adds proof that scientists are closing in on a "universal" flu shot that could neutralize many flu strains, including H1N1 swine flu and H5N1 bird flu, US researchers said yesterday.
They said people who were infected in the H1N1 pandemic developed an unusual immune response, making antibodies that could protect them from all the seasonal H1N1 flu strains from the last decade, the deadly "Spanish flu" strain from 1918 and a strain of the H5N1 avian flu.
"It says that a universal influenza vaccine is really possible," said Patrick Wilson of the University of Chicago, who worked on the paper published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
"Many teams are working on a 'universal' shot that could protect people from all flu strains for decades or even life," Wilson added.
Wilson's team started making the antibodies in 2009 from nine people who had been infected in the first wave of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic before an H1N1 vaccine had been produced. The hope was to develop a way to protect those healthcare personnel.
Working with researchers from Emory University School of Medicine, the team produced 86 antibodies that reacted with the H1N1 virus, and tested them on several different flu strains.
Of these, five were cross-protective, meaning they could interfere with many strains of flu including the 1918 "Spanish flu" and a strain of H5N1 or avian flu.
Tests of these antibodies in mice showed they were fully protected from an otherwise lethal dose of flu.
Some of these cross-protective antibodies were similar in structure to those found by other teams as having potential for a "universal" flu vaccine.
They said people who were infected in the H1N1 pandemic developed an unusual immune response, making antibodies that could protect them from all the seasonal H1N1 flu strains from the last decade, the deadly "Spanish flu" strain from 1918 and a strain of the H5N1 avian flu.
"It says that a universal influenza vaccine is really possible," said Patrick Wilson of the University of Chicago, who worked on the paper published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
"Many teams are working on a 'universal' shot that could protect people from all flu strains for decades or even life," Wilson added.
Wilson's team started making the antibodies in 2009 from nine people who had been infected in the first wave of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic before an H1N1 vaccine had been produced. The hope was to develop a way to protect those healthcare personnel.
Working with researchers from Emory University School of Medicine, the team produced 86 antibodies that reacted with the H1N1 virus, and tested them on several different flu strains.
Of these, five were cross-protective, meaning they could interfere with many strains of flu including the 1918 "Spanish flu" and a strain of H5N1 or avian flu.
Tests of these antibodies in mice showed they were fully protected from an otherwise lethal dose of flu.
Some of these cross-protective antibodies were similar in structure to those found by other teams as having potential for a "universal" flu vaccine.
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