The new vaccine will improve the ability of immune cells to fight the flu

Scientists have developed a new flu vaccine that boosts the immune system's ability to fight flu strains, and animal tests have shown it to be safe and effective, Scientific American reported. The researchers believe the results are one step closer to the eventual development of a universal vaccine.
has so far failed to protect against all influenza viruses, the development of a universal influenza vaccine has become the "holy grail" in the minds of researchers. To develop the new vaccine, a team led by UCLA pharmacology professor Sun Ren analyzed the entire genome of the flu virus and tested each part for different mutations when exposed to interferon, a protein released during a virus attack that helps prevent influenza, identifying eight mutations that are most likely to make the virus protective against interferons, and then combining the eight mutations into a new "super interferon-sensitive" (HIS) influenza strain. The researchers believe the new strain could be the basis for a broader and more effective flu vaccine.
tested the vaccine in several experimental mice and ferrets (a generic test model for influenza) and found that the new vaccine was not only safe but also effective.
in their paper, published in the latest issue of
, the new vaccine can trigger a strong immune response, but not sick infected animals. And, unlike the current flu vaccine, the new vaccine has triggered a strong response from disease-resistant white blood cells (T-cells). This is important because T-cell reactions can have a longer-term protective effect than current vaccination methods and protect against multiple influenza strains.
researchers say the latest study may have other applications, such as isolating other viruses in the lab, identifying important mutations and developing vaccines against a large number of other infections.
, however, scientists at the Scripps Institute said in a commentary in the journal Science that while the vaccine could fight influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2 subsypes, it would not necessarily fight all flu strains. In addition, will triggering a strong immune response to the virus put humans at risk? This is also a problem, as crazy immune system reactions can damage lung tissue and even lead to the death of some H5N1 avian influenza patients. (Source: Science and Technology Daily Liu Xia)