- Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a vaccine platform that shows promise in creating a universal influenza vaccine that could provide lifetime immunity against evolving viruses.
- The study tested the vaccine against the 1918 influenza virus and found that nonhuman primates inoculated with this vaccine successfully survived exposure to the avian H5N1 virus, which is one of the deadliest viruses today.
- This vaccine platform, based on a common herpes virus, targets the internal structural proteins of the virus rather than the exterior surface like traditional vaccines, allowing for a more stationary target for T cells to destroy infected cells.
- The success of this vaccine against the highly evolving H5N1 virus raises potential for developing a protective vaccine for humans, making a "one-and-done" shot for influenza a realistic possibility within 5 to 10 years.
- The research not only opens avenues to combat influenza but also shows promise in targeting other mutating viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the rapid advancement in medical research to prevent and treat infectious diseases.
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Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Vaccines