Scientists have moved a step closer to developing a universal flu vaccine.
A pandemic natural experiment from the fall of 2009 found information that stimulates the body to produce more CD8 T Cells, or a type of virus which kills immune cells in the blood stream a press release from the Imperial College of London reported.
"New strains of flu are continuously emerging, some of which are deadly, and so the Holy Grail is to create a universal vaccine that would be effective against all strains of flu," professor Ajit Lalvani from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College said in a statement. "Our findings suggest that by making the body produce more of this specific type of CD8 T cell, you can protect people against symptomatic illness. This provides the blueprint for developing a universal flu vaccine.
"The immune system produces these CD8 T cells in response to usual seasonal flu," he said. "Unlike antibodies, they target the core of the virus, which doesn't change, even in new pandemic strains. The 2009 pandemic provided a unique natural experiment to test whether T cells could recognize, and protect us against new strains that we haven't encountered before and to which we lack antibodies."
Scientists used the 2009 pandemic to investigate why some individuals are resististant to severe illnesses.
"We already know how to stimulate the immune system to make CD8 T cells by vaccination," Lalvani said. "Now that we know these T cells may protect, we can design a vaccine to prevent people getting symptoms and transmitting infection to others.This could curb seasonal flu annually and protect people against future pandemics."
The 342 volunteer staff and students were asked to give blood samples as the flu was starting to take its course in their immune systems, and then report back any symptons they endured throughout the next two flu seasons the release reported. The participants were sent e-mails every three weeks askng them to fill out a survey about their health. If they had any flu-like symptons, they were to take provided nasal swabs and send it back to the lab.
Researchers then found volunteers who were able to avoid severe illness had more CD8 T cells in their blood at the beginning of the illness. Scientists have moved closer to developing a universal flu vaccine after findings from fall 2009 pandemic natural experiment where they studied why some people seem to resist severe illness.
They believe a vaccine that stimulates the body to produce more of these cells could be effective at preventing flu viruses, including new strains that cross into humans from birds and pigs, from causing serious disease.
