Scientists have created the universal flu jab
British and American scientists have declared the successful completion of the first stage of vaccine’s clinical tests, capable to provide long-term protection against all flu varieties, A type. The new preparation will make unnecessary annual updating of vaccines for struggle against seasonal flu epidemics.
Modern influenza virus vaccines help immune system to distinguish superficial virus albumins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The structure of these albumins varies because of often mutations, and new vaccines are required to struggle against new flu varieties.
Vaccine ACAM-FLU-A developed by Acambis’ experts causes immune response to other superficial albumin named M2e. Gene, coding the structure of this albumin, remains invariable at all varieties of A type viruses, so all of them will be identified and destroyed by immune system of the vaccinated person.
ACAM-FLU-A can not protect from B type viruses, which also can cause an outbreak of disease. However all pandemia, including possible H5N1 pandemia, have been caused by A type viruses. According to WHO’s data, annually from 500 thousand up to one million people die because of flu.