US and Austrian researchers have developed a Universal Flu Vaccine that could protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus, according to a recent clinical study. The H1ssF influenza vaccine contains nanoparticles of the H1 hemagglutinin strain, but from the stem or neck structure of the protein, which is similar across different types of the pathogen. In a clinical study involving 52 volunteers, most of whom received two doses of the vaccine 16 weeks apart, the vaccine was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic, with hardly any side effects reported.
The vaccine triggered a pronounced and long-lasting antibody response, primarily neutralizing “group 1” influenza viruses, which includes the subtypes H1, H2, or H5, but was significantly less effective in “Group 2,” into which, for example, H3 or H10 flu viruses are divided. However, researchers report that the vaccine could be quickly adapted if the pathogen changes significantly in the course of an epidemic, and the vaccine is expected to be more efficient in combination with booster substances, so-called adjuvants.
The researchers believe in the advantages of their nanoparticle vaccine based on the protein ferritin, as the time-consuming production in chicken eggs is not required. Influenza viruses carry a protein called “haemagglutinin” on their surface, which guides them into the host cells. Most seasonal vaccines alert the immune system to its exposed “head” portion so that it recognizes and destroys the virus. However, significant changes occur frequently in this protein, making the current vaccines less effective against new strains of the virus.
The vaccine was tested on 52 people between the ages of 18 and 70, with the results indicating that the vaccine could be a promising target for a universal vaccine. The vaccine was tested on the neck structure of an influenza strain that appeared in New Caledonia in 1999, the structure of which still corresponds to more than 90% with descendants that emerged much later.
According to the researchers, their nanoparticle vaccine could be a game-changer in the fight against the flu. The vaccine’s ability to target multiple strains of the influenza virus could make it more effective than current seasonal vaccines. The researchers believe that their vaccine could be quickly adapted if the virus changes significantly in the course of an epidemic, making it a promising tool in the fight against future flu outbreaks.
US and Austrian researchers have developed a “universal flu vaccine” that could protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus. The vaccine was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic in a recent clinical study involving 52 volunteers, with hardly any side effects reported.
The vaccine triggers a pronounced and long-lasting antibody response, primarily neutralizing “group 1” influenza viruses, and the researchers believe that the vaccine could be quickly adapted if the pathogen changes significantly in the course of an epidemic. The researchers believe in the advantages of their nanoparticle vaccine based on the protein ferritin, as the time-consuming production in chicken eggs is not required.