Universal flu vaccine for influenza A and B virus variants
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Overview
A new universal flu vaccine protects against diverse variants of both influenza A and B viruses in mice, according to a new study by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.
The researchers designed a single, universal influenza vaccine candidate with key cross-protective, less variable parts of the influenza A and B viruses: multi-neuraminidase protein subtypes known to be major antiviral drug targets and the universally conserved M2 ectodomain protein.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, report that mice vaccinated with an immune-stimulating virus-like particle displaying multiple neuraminidase subtypes and conserved M2 portions of antigens (foreign proteins that induce immune responses) were protected against influenza A seasonal variants and pandemic potential viruses and influenza B viruses containing substantial antigenic variations.
Vaccinating mice with this universal vaccine candidate induced broad neuraminidase inhibition, M2 ectodomain specific antibodies and T cell immune responses. Comparable cross-protection was induced in aged mice. The study warrants further testing of this unique, universal vaccine candidate in ferrets, which have similar respiratory tracts to humans.
Ref:
Dr. Sang-Moo Kang et al, Universal protection against influenza viruses by multi-subtype neuraminidase and M2 ectodomain virus-like particle, PLoS Pathogens,DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1010755
Speakers
Isra Zaman
B.Sc Life Sciences, M.Sc Biotechnology, B.Ed
Isra Zaman is a Life Science graduate from Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, and a postgraduate in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a flair for writing, and her roles at Medicaldialogues include that of a Sr. content writer and a medical correspondent. Her news pieces cover recent discoveries and updates from the health and medicine sector. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
