American researchers have made critical progress in developing a more effective and longer-lasting flu vaccine that would end the need for yearly flu shots. Scientists are pinpointing their research on a protein on the surface of the influenza virus, which could lead to the creation of a universal flu vaccination that treats multiple strains.
Two teams conducted different tests in the study. Their findings were published in the journals Science and Nature Medicine.
This latest research was innovative in its focus on the influenza virus' "stem" rather than its mutating "head." The latter changes yearly, but the former is stable.
Ian Wilson from The Scripps Research institute of California was one of the study's researchers. He said that the study indicated they were making outstanding progress in developing a universal flu vaccine.
In their study the researchers focused on the protein hemagglutinin (HA), according to Business Standard. The protein exists in all influenza subtypes, and provides the viruses' mechanics to enter human cells.
Researchers gave one of many possible immunogens to groups of rodents, ferrets, and primates. They discovered that one very stable immunogen made antibodies that were able to bind with HAs in several influenza subtypes.
The antibodies could even neutralize H5NA viruses. These are also known as an avian influenza or "bird flu."
Wilson shared that future research would check if the immunogen would have the same effect in humans. The ultimate goal would be to produce a lifelong flu vaccine.
Sarah Gilbert, Vaccinology professor at the University of Oxford noted that the human clinical trials will take many years, according to BBC. Nonetheless, she described the study's findings as "exciting."
This video explains how flu viruses attack: