Universal flu vaccine a 'step closer'
A universal flu vaccine which is effective against all strains of the virus
could become a reality after scientists identified a “super antibody” in a
patient’s blood.
By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent
The antibody is the first to neutralise both of the main subgroups of the
influenza A virus, which is responsible for a large proportion of seasonal
flu outbreaks.
The flu virus’s ability to mutate into new strains very quickly presents a
headache for scientists attempting to come up with a protective vaccine.
Patients produce antibodies to attack particular strains, meaning that new
vaccines have to be created every year to target the newly evolved subtypes,
leading to delays that can cost lives during major outbreaks.
Previous vaccines have used antibodies that attacked several strains from
either Group One or Group Two influenza A viruses but not both.
The discovery of the new antibody in a human patient came through a
needle-in-a-haystack method in which more than 100,000 white blood cells
from eight volunteers were screened.
One donor was found to have an antibody known as FI6, which when injected into
mice and ferrets provided protection against viruses from Groups One and
Two, a study published in the Science journal reported.
Dr Steve Gambin, one of the researchers from the Medical Research Council
National Institute for Medical Research in London, said: "Historically,
it has been impossible to predict precisely what kind of flu could develop
into an epidemic and, as such, it has been necessary to develop new vaccines
each year to tackle the different viruses.
“Our discovery may eventually help to develop a universal vaccine."
Co-author Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia, director of the Institute for
Research in Biomedicine in Bellinzona, Switzerland, said: "The high
prevalence of seasonal influenza and the unpredictability of new pandemics
highlight the need for better treatments that target all influenza viruses.
“As the first and only antibody which targets all known subtypes of the
influenza A virus, FI6 represents an important new treatment option and we
look forward to taking it through to the next stage of development."
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