Hong Kong prepares breakthrough vaccines against influenza H7N9

According to Hong Kong Morning Post, the Hong Kong University (HKU) researchers have successfully developed a vaccine that could be the first in the world to create a 'shield'. against many types of flu viruses - including the H7N9 bird flu virus - with a simple injection.

The HKU team described their work as a breakthrough, because in the past, each vaccine against seasonal influenza usually had only a mechanism to protect against one or a few specific influenza viruses.

With technical assistance from the US National Cancer Research Institute, researchers used smallpox virus - a key ingredient in smallpox vaccine - as a vaccine against influenza.

Technicians conduct experiments on the H7N9 flu vaccine.(Photo: THX / TTXVN)

Smallpox virus is known to be a virus capable of creating in the body of mice strong protection against influenza A viruses of the H5 strain.

They tested hundreds of mice inoculated with different influenza viruses, including H3N2, H1N1, H7N7 and most recently H7N9, a dangerous bird flu strain that has spread to humans, causing hundreds of deaths. death.

Experts found that 80-100% of the mice contained in the vaccine were protected from the subsequent attacks of different viruses.

Meanwhile, mice that were not vaccinated died.

Lead researcher, Associate Professor and Doctor of Public Health Leo Poon Lit-man said: 'Current influenza vaccines are aimed at specific and specific viruses, but scientific experts. It is difficult to predict which virus will cause the next disease. That's why we should study whether there are other measures to create a broader chain of protection against different viruses. "

However, according to Associate Professor Leo Poon Hitman, it may take years before the new vaccine is tested in humans at experimental medical centers.