Duke University researchers have unveiled a promising breakthrough in the ongoing battle against influenza viruses.
Their pioneering research has developed a universal, long-lasting flu vaccine designed to prompt the immune system to zero in on a less mutable portion of the virus surface.
The novel flu vaccine strategy exhibited remarkable efficacy in experiments conducted on both mice and ferrets, signalling a potential shift towards broader protection against influenza strains.
If successful in human trials, this innovation could significantly reduce the need for annual vaccine updates tailored to specific viral variants.
The Duke team’s research marks a significant milestone in the quest for a universal flu vaccine, with influenza claiming the lives of approximately half a million individuals worldwide each year.
Decoding influenza: Understanding hemagglutinin
Influenza strains are classified using a shorthand code, such as H5N1, which denotes the specific combinations of two surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
Hemagglutinin, resembling a lollipop, plays a pivotal role in facilitating viral entry into host cells, while neuraminidase aids in the spread of the virus.
Conventional vaccines primarily target the bulbous ‘head’ of the hemagglutinin protein. However, the constant evolution of the head region poses a formidable challenge, necessitating frequent updates to vaccine formulations.
In contrast, the stalk portion of the protein exhibits greater stability over time.
Long-lasting flu vaccine development
Seeking to exploit this stability, the Duke team engineered proteins to elicit an immune response specifically directed at the stalk region of hemagglutinin.
Leveraging gene-editing techniques, they developed over 80,000 variants of the protein, each with subtle modifications in the head domain.
Intriguingly, vaccines containing a mixture of these variants proved highly effective in inducing antibodies targeting the stalk region.
This targeted immune response not only enhanced overall vaccine efficacy but also bolstered antibody production against the head region in some instances.
Unprecedented protection in animal models
In laboratory tests and animal trials, the experimental vaccine conferred robust immunity, with all vaccinated mice remaining unscathed even when exposed to otherwise lethal doses of flu viruses.
These compelling results underscore the potential of the Duke team’s approach to revolutionising flu vaccine development.
As the research progresses, the team aims to streamline the vaccine formulation by identifying the optimal number of hemagglutinin variants needed to achieve maximal immunity.
This ongoing work holds promise for the eventual translation of their findings into effective interventions for human populations.
