An efficient way to boost the efficacy of vaccines against influenza type B might be hiding in plain sight. By exploiting the flu vaccine to elicit more of a NA-related response like the one found in these studies, they could go further in developing a universal vaccine.
Novel Strategy Could Yield More Precise Seasonal Flu Vaccine
A novel strategy to predict the antigenic evolution of circulating influenza viruses and more precisely anticipate seasonal flu strains has been developed.
A novel strategy to predict the antigenic evolution of circulating influenza viruses and more precisely anticipate seasonal flu strains has been developed.
‘Although seasonal vaccines are good in protecting us against influenza, scientists believe that there is still some room for improvement. By exploiting a vaccine to elicit more of an NA-related response like the one found in this study they could go further in developing a universal vaccine.’
The researchers report that neuraminidase (NA), a protein found in small amounts in current vaccines, prompts the immune system to produce antibodies that may mount a broad protective response against influenza B viruses. Previous studies have connected NA antibodies to protection against the flu - likely by preventing the spread of infection -- but this new study is among the first to show how that mechanism might be exploited for future, broad-acting flu vaccines.
"Targeting this type of vaccine response can help us develop a universal vaccine," said influenza virologist Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D., at the University of Rochester in New York. He co-led the study with immunologist James Kobie, Ph.D., also at Rochester.
Seasonal Flu Vaccine Gives Protection Against Bird Flu
Researchers have found antibodies - the immune system's protective proteins - for H7N9 in people who had had the injection for seasonal flu.
Researchers have found antibodies - the immune system's protective proteins - for H7N9 in people who had had the injection for seasonal flu.
This immune response is dominated by antibodies that target a common family of proteins called hemagglutinins (HA). However, those proteins mutate at a rapid clip every year, giving rise to new seasonal flu strains that are resistant to existing vaccines.
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Seasonal Flu Vaccine may Protect Against H7N9 Avian Flu
Antibodies that protect against H7N9 avian flu have been isolated in individuals who received seasonal flu vaccinations, finds a new research.
Antibodies that protect against H7N9 avian flu have been isolated in individuals who received seasonal flu vaccinations, finds a new research.
The researchers and their collaborators first studied blood samples from volunteers who, a week earlier, had received the seasonal inactivated quadrivalent flu vaccine for the 2014-2015 season. That analysis showed that the vaccine had induced the production of NA antibodies for influenza type B particles. Follow up tests and experiments led the researchers to identify and clone six specific antibodies that targeted NA on Flu B particles.
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Antibodies Against H7N9 Bird Flu Induced in Body by Seasonal Flu Vaccine
Bird flu H7N9 had emerged in China in 2013 which sparked fears of a global pandemic. Antibodies that protect against bird flu have been isolated in persons receiving seasonal flu vaccinations.
Bird flu H7N9 had emerged in China in 2013 which sparked fears of a global pandemic. Antibodies that protect against bird flu have been isolated in persons receiving seasonal flu vaccinations.
Experiments on human cells in the lab suggested that the agents worked by blocking the release of infectious particles. The researchers then used the agents to treat mice infected with influenza type B; their findings suggest that the antibodies can reduce the replication of the virus and have the potential to both prevent and treat infections.
Finally, the scientists studied bone marrow from one of the original human volunteers one year after vaccination. The marrow continued to produce these NA antibodies with anti-viral activity, suggesting that a vaccine strategy based on NA responses could be long-lasting.
According to the researchers, the amount of NA-specific antibodies with such broad activity stimulated by current vaccines may not be sufficient to optimally protect an individual against influenza B. The new findings suggest a way to boost that efficacy.
"Seasonal vaccines are good in protecting us against influenza," said Dr. Martinez-Sobrido, "but there is room for improvement. By tuning a vaccine to elicit more of an NA-related response like the one found in our studies, we could go further in developing a universal vaccine."
Source-Eurekalert
