A prototype of a universal flu vaccine is successfully tested in rodents

A team from the University of Pennsylvania (USA) successfully tested a prototype mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine in rodents that contains antigens from the 20 known subtypes of influenza A and B viruses and that could serve as the basis for a universal vaccine.

According to the study published in the journal Sciencethe vaccine produced high levels of crossover and subtype-specific antibodies in mice and ferrets and was successful in protecting the animals against symptoms of illness and death following infection with influenza strains.

The vaccine produced high levels of cross-subtype-specific antibodies in mice and ferrets and was successful in protecting the animals against symptoms of illness and death following infection with influenza strains.

Achieving a universal flu vaccine is one of the biggest global health goals, as it is difficult to predict each year which flu strain will cause the next pandemic. Only in Spain, in 2020, this virus, especially severe in people over 64 and in Groups of riskcaused more than 600,000 cases, 1,800 ICU admissions and 3,900 deaths, according to the Carlos III Health Institute.

Inspired by the success of RNA vaccines against covid

Unlike other prototypes that contain a reduced set of shared antigens among virus subtypes, this vaccine includes specific antigens of each subtype. Inspired by the success of RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the team led by Claudia Arevalofrom the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, prepared 20 different mRNAs encapsulated in nanoparticles, the same technology used by Moderna to develop its coronavirus vaccines.

Each of the RNAs encoded a different hemagglutinin antigen, a highly immunogenic flu protein that helps the virus enter cells, the study said.

Antibody levels were nearly stable four months after vaccination in the rodents. Multivalent protein vaccines produced using more traditional methods elicited fewer antibodies and were less protective compared to the multivalent mRNA vaccine in animals, according to the authors.

In a related opinion article, also published in Science🇧🇷 alyson kelvin Y Darryl Falzaranofrom the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), warn that “there are still questions on the regulatory and approval path for a vaccine that targets viruses that have pandemic potential but are not currently in human circulation.

Reference🇧🇷

Claudia Arevalo and others🇧🇷 “An mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine protects animals from 20 influenza strains”. Science (November 2022)

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