Sensational discovery brings us closer to a universal flu vaccine a step

It will soon no flu more diseases?

In future there will be a universal vaccine against influenza? A group of international scientists has made a discovery that could allow for the development of a universal flu vaccine. The annual vaccinations could be an effective long-term protection, vaccination replaced.

The physicians at the University of Melbourne have discovered in their recent study of immune cells, which could allow the development of a universal flu vaccine. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal “Nature Immunology”.

What are Killer T-cells?

In view of the high infection numbers, the lack of treatment options and the annual deaths will be searched for years looking for effective vaccines that protect against all strains of the influenza virus. The work of the researchers focused on the development of a universal Influenza vaccine that makes an annual reformulation is required. A sub-group of white blood cells, which is attributed to the Killer T-cells, and provides immunity for all of the different types of human infecting influenza virus. The findings from this study could be used in the future to a universal Influenza to develop a vaccine. In Essence, the physicians have identified the parts of influenza viruses, which are the same for all strains is usual, and the special Killer T-cells (CD8 T cells) can respond.

Why is it to develop such a universal vaccine?

T-cells are a type of white blood cells, whose task is to examine the body for abnormalities and infections. You are a crucial part of the human immune system. So-called Killer T-cells have the ability of infected cells to target and kill. Through the use of a scan technique called mass spectrometry, the scientists were able to identify the parts of the flu virus, the occurrence of strains in all the Flu. The development of a long-lasting flu vaccine is normally very difficult, as the Virus mutates to continue, which means that the body is able to find after a single or repeated exposure to a long-lasting way to combat the Virus.

Killer cells could be activated in experiments on mice already

The Team of experts is of the opinion that it might be possible to use these findings for the development of a vaccine that can work around the Problem. In animals, the researchers were able to try the Killer T-cells in mice already enable. So the flu virus and the inflammation could be reduced in the Airways of the animals significantly. However, there are also some limitations, which could complicate the development of a universal flu drug. The specific CD8 T-cells are only at 50 percent of the world’s population. The next step is to use the same methods that were used in this study to more Killer T-identify cells, which can respond to all flu strains, and thus to develop a universal Influenza vaccine for all people. (as)