Scientists found a "super-antibody" influenza, called FI6 that can combat all types of influenza A viruses that cause disease in humans and animals and believe their discovery could be key in developing new treatments . Researchers from Britain and Switzerland used a new method that identified a human patient an antibody that neutralizes two major groups of influenza virus A.

Although warned that an initial step, they emphasized that it is very important because in the future could lead to the development of a universal flu vaccine.

Vaccine manufacturers now have to change the formula of your doses each year to ensure they provide protection against virus strains in circulation.

This is a cumbersome process that consumes time and money, so the goal is to create a universal vaccine to protect people from all strains of flu for decades, or even for life.

Dozens of laboratories manufacturing influenza vaccines, such as Sanofi Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, AstraZeneca and CSL.

"As we saw with the 2009 pandemic, a comparatively mild strain of influenza can cause a significant burden on emergency services," said John Skehel, National Institute of Medical Research in Britain, who worked with colleagues from the private firm Swiss Humabs.

"Achieving universal treatment which may be provided in emergency circumstances would be an invaluable asset," he said.

Antonio Lanzavecchia, director Humabs scientist and Institute of Biomedical Research in Switzerland, said that high rates of seasonal flu and the unpredictability of possible future pandemics underscore the need for better therapies targeting all viruses of the disease.

When a person is sick with the flu, your antibodies attack the virus hemagglutinin protein, the researchers said the study published Thursday in the journal Science.

As this protein is evolving so fast, there are currently 16 different subtypes of influenza A, which form two large groups. Humans usually produce antibodies to a specific subtype and new vaccines are made each year try to match these strains.

To advance the creation of a universal dose, scientists must identify the molecular signals that cause the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Previous research found antibodies that work against influenza A viruses in Group 1 or the virus in Group 2 but not against two.

By identifying the FI6, UK and Swiss team injected it into mice and ferrets and found that protected them from infection with both Group 1 and Group 2 of the virus.

"As the first and only antibody that targets all known subtypes of influenza virus A, FI6 represents an important new treatment option," he said in a statement Lanzavecchia.

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Tags : vaccine, flu, scientists, super-antibody, influenza, FI6, viruses, disease, humans, animals, treatments
Category : Health

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