Universal Flu Vaccine On The Horizon: Researchers Find 'Super Antibody'

Flu vaccine-makers have to change flu shot formulations each year to keep up with the constantly mutating virus, but scientists have come across a new "super antibody" that has the potential to beat both of the main groups of influenza A.

While research is still early, the antibody -- called F16 -- could be promising for a universal flu vaccine, Reuters reported. The finding was published in the journal Science.

New vaccines are made each year to match the specific type of influenza that is circulating. There are two main types of influenza -- type A and type B -- both of which are responsible for the yearly flu outbreaks. Influenza A itself is broken up into two main groups, comprised of 16 different subtypes. The 2009 H1N1 influenza is a type A influenza.

"As we saw with the 2009 pandemic, a comparatively mild strain of influenza can place a significant burden on emergency services. Having a universal treatment which can be given in emergency circumstances would be an invaluable asset," study researcher John Skehel, of Britain's National Institute for Medical Research, told Reuters.

The flu affects 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population each year, and 200,000 people are hospitalized because of flu-related complications every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To find the antibody, researchers had to screen 100,000 white blood cells that came from eight volunteers, The Telegraph reported. One of the blood donors had the F16 antibody, which was then tested in animals against influenza A.

This isn't the first time there haven been talks of a universal flu vaccine. The Guardian reported back in February that Oxford University scientists are testing a universal vaccine in humans that works on all strains of the flu.

Francis Collins, chief of the National Institutes of Health, told USA Today that with all the recent innovations, he is "guardedly optimistic" that a universal flu vaccine will be available in the next five years.

A recent Consumer Reports survey showed that only 37 percent of people say they planned to get a flu shot this year, while 30 percent said they wouldn't and 31 percent said they weren't sure, USA Today reported.

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Comments

[squiems]

08:22 PM on 07/31/2011

One of the biggest pieces of medical news in years. This is a gamechanger, and will save tens of thousands of lives every year. Amazing.

[MadMaddie]

05:27 PM on 07/31/2011

My 2 little ones and myself were all hospitalized in Oct. 2009 with H1N1.
The 3 of us were coughing nonstop, all had fevers above 103 degrees,
and our lungs felt like they were filled with thick, burning lava.
How my hubby did NOT get it also with the 3 of us coughing constantly is beyond everyone.
If I never get that sick again, it will still be too soon.

[RobSut]

01:30 PM on 07/31/2011

Read this CDC document. They admit that most of the information about safety concerns for vaccines is true. It is implicit in the noted paragraph. Read it carefully and then read what they say to do about it. They tell the healthcare worker to mindscrew you, and gently poison you. You like that? Take the poisons out of the vaccines.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/D/vacc_admin.pdf

• Vaccine Safety & Risk Communication - There have been safety concerns about vaccines since the 18th century when the first smallpox vaccination campaigns began. Specific vaccine concerns have changed through time. An increasing number of parents, even those who support vaccination, are beginning to raise vaccine safety concerns. Parents/guardians and patients are exposed to information about vaccines through the media, internet, family members, and friends. Some of this information is inaccurate and misleading.

[cable1977]

02:53 PM on 07/31/2011

"Some of this informatio­n is inaccurate and misleading­. "

I think we can safely say that the CDC is likely referring to anything that you have to say on the subject, like your inaccuracy in saying that vaccines are injected directly into the bloodstream or your comments below about Nigeria that BikeCommuter deftly showed were misleading.

[N0NDescript0]

12:21 PM on 08/01/2011

RobSut said:

"They tell the healthcare worker to mindscrew you, and gently poison you. You like that? Take the poisons out of the vaccines."

So where do they tell the health care professionals to "mind-screw" patients? I didn't see that part.

And what "poisons" are you referring to? Thimerosal? Well most vaccines are thimerosal-free, and almost all of them are available in thimerosal-free forms.

[RobSut]

01:12 PM on 08/01/2011

OK I feel better now. Keep on them.

[RobSut]

10:37 PM on 07/30/2011

I guess I won't be inertacting with overlords who quell free speech when the topic gets hot - typical control freaks. Don't bother replying to my concerns then. You're weak. Mercury and Aluminum are toxic and they're directly injecting them into your blood stream and into your brain unnecessarily; case closed. Polio vaccine in Nigeria causes Polio. Those are the facts. Case Closed.

[Josephius]

11:35 PM on 07/30/2011

Facts and intelligence missing from postin. Case closed.

[RobSut]

01:18 AM on 07/31/2011

OK, Biology loves to describe mechanisms and cycles. Explain to me the biological mechanism that requires toxic Aluminum salts in an immuno response to form an immunoglobulin. I don't see it anywhere in my basic biology book. Explain.

The word "immunoglobulin" wasn't necessary to say in this particular discussion, I just like to say immunoglobulin. Say it with me, "immunoglobulin". See? Wasn't that just soul satisfying?

[cable1977]

11:41 PM on 07/30/2011

"they're directly injecting them into your blood stream"
"Those are the facts."

What vaccine is given IV?

Vaccines are not given IV, therefore that is not a fact, it is a lie.

"I guess I won't be inertactin­g with overlords who quell free speech when the topic gets hot"

Perhaps they are simply trying to prevent you from looking foolish. Apparently, they are too late.

[RobSut]

01:11 AM on 07/31/2011

So you're saying that it doesn't get into your bloodstream? You're ninnying. Any injection into the body gets into the bloodstream, including sub-dermal, just like smoking crack and eating food gets into your bloodstream. You're foolish for missing the important point and putting society at risk with your acceptance of brain toxins in your medicine. Ninny ninny ninny.

[squiems]

08:25 PM on 07/31/2011

Don't worry. In five years when all the intelligent people are immune to the flu, it is just people like this clown who will be suffering and dying from it.

[maslin]

05:15 PM on 07/30/2011

Probably a dumb question, but would this also be yearly?

[Josephius]

11:36 PM on 07/30/2011

No. One and done.

[cable1977]

11:54 PM on 07/30/2011

Depends which vaccine you are talking about.

The one in the article above would only affect Influenza A. Also, so far they have simply found an antibody to a viral coat antigen that is conserved between strains of the flu. They are still a long way off from making a usable vaccine. They would have to identify the epitope recognized by the antigen. They then have to design a vaccine to specifically target that epitope, ensuring that virtually all of those injected would create the antibodies to that specific epitope (not an easy feat). Even then, it is possible that the virus could mutate to avoid these antibodies eventually.

I would give more hope to the vaccine looking to create cell mediate (i.e. T cell) immunity. The advantage there is that you could generate immunity that would last, as opposed to the antibodies alone which really don't lead to much of a memory response.

[cable1977]

12:00 AM on 07/31/2011

I also would imagine this might be the kind of thing that they would save for an emergency, such as if a strain of influenza A appeared suddenly and there was no vaccine readily available (as we saw with H1N1). Given the potential for the mutation away from this conserved epitope if the vaccine was regularly used, it would seem likely that they wouldn't want to use it frequently.

[RobSut]

01:34 PM on 07/30/2011

Here, read what happened in Nigeria.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-08-14-nigeria-polio_N.htm

There was a polio surge because of the vaccine. Some of you people arguing about this, feigning knowledge, should know what's in the above article. If you do not adjust your position after reading this, you are only exhibiting your personal weaknessess.

[Bike Commuter]

05:08 PM on 07/30/2011

What is "personal weakness" is to take a problem that is being dealt with and act as if it is reason to end a program that is doing so much good. 25 years ago Nigeria had an minimum estimated 30,000 cases of polio per year (based on research after the fact since there weren't good records, but that is the minimum). By the 2000s, immunization programs had dropped that to a few hundred. The goal is ZERO. For several years Nigeria had been hindered in the effort because of misinformation and suspicion regarding the immunizations (not that much unlike the tactics seen in the comment above). Today the acceptance rates are better and it is paying off. Last year there were a total of 20 cases. This year Nigeria is again on track to be well under 100. ........... A couple hundred cases of vaccine strain polio is terribIe, but comparing it to the thousands of cases without vaccination puts it into perspective. ............ By the way, the "mutation" is more correctly described as the vaccine strain reverting to its wild form from the attenuated form. For that reason the easiest way to protect against the problem is to make sure all are vaccinated.

[Bike Commuter]

05:10 PM on 07/30/2011

A recent article. http://www.abc12.com/story/15108305/un-says-20-polio-cases-in-north-nigeria-this-year

[RobSut]

06:46 PM on 07/30/2011

So we should avoid conversations on perfecty safe and effective vaccines? Science screws up all the time, you have to watch them like a hawk. We had to fight to get the mercury out for children and pregnant women, and no it is by no means safe. It is a toxic substance. Yes you can survive it, but you can also survive cyanide and aspartame, for that matter, if it's not enough to kill you. Would you sprinkle a non-lethal amount of cyanide on your morning breakfast? I didn't think so.

Do you know that they replaced Thimerosal with Aluminum salts? Those are the same salts that they warned us about 25 years ago to not use in our anti-perspirants, because it will soak into your bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier and form plaques in your brain tissue that will cause Alzheimers disease. Great alternative man, and you're injecting it directly into your body. Would you like to salt your eggs with some Aluminum? I didn't think so.

ZERO TOLERANCE! There is no excuse for having these preservatives in the vaccines. We could actually build an infrastructure, if we were really serious about health care, that makes these vaccines in a spread out manor where shelf life is not an issue. We are being victimized by our own laziness and accounting rules, but primarily by this weird idea that we must choose between the lesser of two evils. NO, choose no evil.

[maslin]

05:12 PM on 07/30/2011

If you take the single positive contribution of vaccines to be smallpox eradication (which, incidentally, would be a bit short of the mark) that would still be one of the greatest gifts science has ever given the human race.

Oct 26, 1977: the last case of smallpox.

(Ditched original post, kinda OT and lame on later consideration.)

[RobSut]

07:33 PM on 07/30/2011

True, but that's not reason enough to not keep watching the mad scientists like a hawk, right? Don't let them so easily lower the bar for our healthcare. The bar for a vaccine is perfection, not this mess of toxins and mistakes. Hold their feet to the fire, always.

[Ocheco]

11:34 AM on 07/30/2011

This is the most entertaining thread I have read here in soooo long! I particularly enjoyed the Twilight Zone Theme music & Rod Serling narration!!

[watchclock]

01:52 PM on 07/29/2011

With the govt. and pharmaceutical companies working together to create more revenue for each other, would you trust either of these entities with your health? Not me!! They put toxic krap in the injections which ruin your immune system, not help it. When I was in the military we had to get flu shots every 6 months and I got the flu every time. Ask your self, what better way to cause and or spread an epidemic? Just think in the new healthcare law that so many of you think is so great, you will soon not have a choice, or face a fine and or imprisonment. Read it and you will see.

[Josephius]

05:11 PM on 07/29/2011

omg

(facepalm)

Are governments in every country on earth all working with the pharmaceutical companies? Because it doesn't matter if it is the U.S., France, North Korea, Cuba, China, or Kenya, they all have public health programs that include use of immunizations to prevent infectious diseases.

What in a vaccine is toxic at the doses used? Is it more or less toxic than the disease it prevents?

BTW, you cannot 'get the flu' from a vaccine. Just an FYI. If you get sick around the time or the vaccination, you either contracted something totally different.

....and don't even get me started on your 'understanding' of the changes in our health care system. Imprisonment? Really?

[watchclock]

02:36 PM on 08/02/2011

Thats right! Wake up and read what it says. You will be enlightened.

[squiems]

08:36 PM on 07/31/2011

vaccines are an infinitesimal part of the pharma company profits. I may not trust big pharma, but I do trust scientists and doctors, who overwhelmingly advocate for the use of vaccines.

[watchclock]

02:37 PM on 08/02/2011

Where do you think they get their research funding? The GOVT.

[herbalYODA]

12:46 PM on 07/29/2011

Amanda Chan writes "New vaccines are made each year to match the specific type of influenza that is circulating."
Tain't so. Vaccines are made for a current year based on last years flu virus. This is one reason why this is a failed policy. Viruese mutate by their very nature so last year's dose is hit or mis in a new season.
Just don't get the flu jab or any other toxic vaccine, you risk your health if you do.

[Josephius]

12:49 PM on 07/29/2011

"Vaccines are made for a current year based on last years flu virus. "

That's not correct.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm

[N0NDescript0]

02:57 PM on 07/29/2011

herbal said:

"Viruese mutate by their very nature so last year's dose is hit or mis in a new season."

That is a misnomer: it is too simplistic to accurately represent the variation in viral mutation rates.

[PerfumeisToxic]

12:28 PM on 07/29/2011

Scientists don't actually know most of the things that they pretend to know. It's largely bluff because they like to be looked up to as authorities on things. No one knows the side effects of interfering with nature with vaccines or GM foods, for example. Therefore I stick to what nature has designed over millions of years. I don't alter it if I don't have to because someone in 2011 thinks they can do better with what is really a tiny bit of understanding. I don't want to be a science experiment.

[Josephius]

12:50 PM on 07/29/2011

Same fallacy. Ever take a course in logic?

[onionboy]

01:30 PM on 07/29/2011

Vaccines are the most "natural" of just about any pharmacologic treatment. More than aspirin or antibiotics. They go into your body, expose your body to antigen before it might otherwise be exposed (ie, from the pathogen) naturally, and then are gone. They simply train your immune system to recognize a pathogen a little earlier. When the pathogen attacks, it's your immune system that fights it off, not the vaccine.

[PerfumeisToxic]

12:11 PM on 07/29/2011

Some people have a touching faith in science. And scientists encourage this delusion by constantly pretending that they know much much more than they really do. Actually we know maybe 1% of how biology works. We know hardly anything. Scientists love to preach and project an aura of knowledgeable authority. They are really modern day preachers with their "don't question me" attitude.

Actually....no one knows the side effects of interfering with nature. Be it vaccination, GM food etc. Everyone is guessing, but some are pretending that they know things they really don't know. The word arrogance comes to mind.

Since I don't want to be a guinea pig and test out these things, I will stick with what nature/God has designed over millions of years. Nature/God probably knows a lot more than some scientist in 2010 has just magically discovered and will probably change their mind about before long with a big "oops sorry" we were wrong.

[sabelmouse]

12:27 PM on 07/29/2011

'' real '' scientists are open minded and questioning but that does not seem to be the norm in the '' church of science ''.

[Josephius]

12:33 PM on 07/29/2011

Name the fallacy in this argument.

[Josephius]

12:06 PM on 07/29/2011

More examples of concerned, skeptical parents who do not want to vaccinate their children:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guXN_-EJ_bVNt0n6saMXdCXowWbw?docId=dcf72f7c2f9d4539975a872e62f027bc

[pascale0473]

12:02 PM on 07/29/2011

I got the mumps from the vaccine as a child. I haven't had a tetanus shot in 20 years until the other day when I sustained a minor injury and got a tetanus booster. My lymph nodes are now totally swollen on the side of the injection, my blood pressure is low, I have had the shakes for 5 days now. I haven't had a flu vaccine in 10 years and even though I work with kids I haven't had the flu in all those years!

[N0NDescript0]

03:13 PM on 07/29/2011

so you went to the hospital to confirm that you indeed have tetanus, right?

because you didn't get tetanus from the booster shot, since it contains inactivated toxin, and not the bacterium that causes tetanus.

http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4220.pdf

and for all you know, you've been infected with influenza A hundreds of times: you just don't know it because it never developed into an infection.

Sorry pascale, but you are doing your namesake a disservice, WRT critical thinking...

[Josephius]

05:16 PM on 07/29/2011

Well that individual anecdote is good enough for me. We need to re-write all the medical and science text books now to coincide with pascale's self-diagnosis and explanation.

[chessgms2]

10:17 AM on 07/29/2011

I've got a question to pose to all the anti-Science, anti-vaccine people out there.

How many of you have ever been sick with smallpox? Polio? Lost a child to Dyptheria, or tetanus?

Yeah, that's right. None of you. (Other than a few of our older readers who were unfortunate enough to contract Polio before the early 1950's).

Ever wonder why these diseases, which once killed tens of thousands each and every year, are now virtually unheard of today?

Vaccines.

And why is that? Because VACCINES WORK, you Luddites!

Here's a statistic that should wake you up a bit, particularly if you have in infant in the house. Prior to the 1940's when Whooping Cough (Pertussis) vaccine was invented, a quarter of a million Americans were affected every year, and FIVE TO TEN THOUSAND people (mostly children) would die. By 1976, less than a thousand cases were diagnosed, with perhaps 30 deaths........all because of vaccines. But by 2005, 25,000 cases reappeared.

Why? Largely because people stopped vaccinating their children.

Again, folks, wake up and realize that modern medical science and vaccines actually DO prevent and cure disease, sheesh!

[watchclock]

02:10 PM on 07/29/2011

AIDS didnt exist until the govt. started doling it out in all the vaccines to all the major cities they wanted to get rid of people in.

[Josephius]

05:17 PM on 07/29/2011

Uh huh. And what role did bigfoot play in all this?

[queue sounds of black helicopters now]

[Daniel U]

04:32 PM on 08/02/2011

You're absolutely right, because the H1N1 pandemic wasn't blown out of proportion by the WHO and didn't turn out to be a total scam run by big pharma. Right?

[chessgms2]

05:32 PM on 08/02/2011

Right you are, Danno. It was totally overblown. (This, coming from a former H1N1 patient now suffering with permanent lung damage from the illness).

It was the real deal, my friend, regardless of what you may have heard to the contrary.

[classygirlkq1]

10:14 AM on 07/29/2011

A universal flu vaccine would be awesome. One less thing to think about each year. Maybe I've been drinking the Big Pharm Kool Aid, but I have faithfully gotten my annual flu shot every year for the last 8 years. Never once had a bad reaction to it, haven't gotten the flu since I was 13, and for the last 2 years haven't had so much as a cold.

[Josephius]

12:35 PM on 07/29/2011

You will have a reaction to the vaccine if you want to believe you've had a reaction to it....it's easy.

[watchclock]

01:56 PM on 07/29/2011

Power of positive thinking!!