Successfully tested universal flu vaccine on people

Acambis, the Anglo-American Biotechnology Company, has just announced to test a successful step 1 of human influenza A vaccine. The vaccine, pioneered by researchers at VIB and Ghent University, can protect the human body from the attack of influenza A viruses, including strains that cause pandemic influenza. . Therefore, there is no need to re-administer every year when using this vaccine.

Flu

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. The disease is especially contagious and makes people sick. On average, about 5% of the world's population gets the flu every year. In Belgium, up to 1,500 people die from influenza each year. In Belgium alone in the years of serious influenza outbreaks such as the winter of 1989-1990 - the disease killed 4500 patients. Moreover, this epidemic still occasionally breaks out.

The disease is caused by various flu viruses and reduces human immunity. Historically there have been three pandemics that occurred last century. First, the ' Spanish Flu ' epidemic broke out in 1918-1919, causing at least 50 million deaths worldwide. People are concerned that the H5N1 bird flu could infect humans and cause the next pandemic.

Every year a vaccine

Current flu vaccines must change every year to match new virus variants. Therefore, vaccines must also be distributed regularly every year. This is necessary because the external structure of the flu virus changes regularly and causes new flu outbreaks. Because of this frequent change, the flu virus can evade antibodies created during the previous vaccination.

Non-stained transmission electron micrograph (TEM) shows the enlarged structural characteristics of a flu virus, also known as a virion.Belonging to the classification group Orthomyxoviridae, influenza virus is an organism that has only one single ARN circuit.(Photo: Cynthia Goldsmith)

That's why every year we face the risk of getting the flu. In order to prevent infection, we need to be vaccinated regularly according to the current virus. The universal flu vaccine can protect people for the rest of their lives, like the polio vaccine, B or measles vaccine; however, it is not yet popular.

An injection for a lifetime

In the 1990s, VIB researchers collaborated with Ghent University with the guidance of Professor Walter Fiers invented the universal flu vaccine. This vaccine attacks M2e - the protected area of ​​the influenza A strain. About two-thirds of the seasonal flu is caused by the influenza A virus, and all flu pandemics are influenza A. , universal vaccines based on the mechanism of attacking M2e regions (also known as M2e vaccines) hope to prevent a pandemic. Previously, the universal vaccine was successfully tested in mice and some other lab animals. It can protect animals completely from the effects of influenza A virus without causing side effects.

Successful clinical trial on humans

Anglo-American Biotechnology Company Acambis specializes in the research and production of vaccines approved by VIB to exclusively produce flu vaccines for humans. The company also recently cooperated with VIB in research and production of influenza vaccines. In a double-blind clinical trial randomized step 1 vaccine (now also known as ACAM-FLU-ATM), safety and ability to stimulate the immune response of vaccines have been beaten. price. It has also been tested in many US centers on 79 healthy volunteers. Test results show that the ACAM-FLU-ATM vaccine is very adaptive, immune stimulating and has no significant side effects.

Acambis also examined whether the M2 vaccine could protect ferrets when infected with the deadly strain of H5N1 bird flu, ' Vietnam 2004 '. 70% of vaccinated ferrets survived, while those treated with placebo were unable to withstand the virus's attack.

Michael Watson, vice president of corporate management at Acambis - Research and Production Department, said: 'M2e is one of the most discussed new methods for producing universal flu vaccines. There is a very interesting data that our ACAM-FLU-ATM vaccine can stimulate the reaction of healthy M2e antibodies; therefore, vaccines containing M2e antibodies will protect against H5N1 bird flu. We believe these results prove we have a measure worth investing in research and production. '

The future promises

Dr. Xavier Saelens and Professor Emeritus Walter Fiers directed the basic research on the vaccine's ability to fight pandemics and pandemics. Basic research includes the support studies needed for clinical trials step 2 and step 3 as expected. In addition, the study is optimistic about the effectiveness of vaccines against potential pandemics caused by high-risk pathogens such as H5N1 bird flu. In collaboration with Acambis, scientists hope that the annual vaccination can be replaced by the universal flu virus. Their goal is that only two vaccinations will be enough to protect people for a long time against the effects of influenza A outbreaks.

Related scientific publications

De Filette et al., Vaccines 24, 544-551, 2006.
De Filette et al., Virus studied 337, 149-161, 2005.
Fiers et al., Research on 103 viruses, 173-176, 2004.
Fiers et al, Philos T Roy Soc B 356, 1961-1963, 2001.
Neirynck et al., Natural Medicine 5, 1157-1163, 1999.
The research was funded by Acambis, the United States National Health Institute, organizations: IWT, FWO, UGent and VIB.