LONDON: Coming soon: A once-in-a-lifetime flu jab which fights off all strains of the disease, according to American scientists.
A team at the National Institute of Health in Maryland is developing the new vaccine which it claims would fight off all strains of the disease — from the winter flu to deadly pandemic viruses. Described as the " holy grail" of flu research, the scientists say that the jab would be available within five years' time, the Daily Mail reported.
In fact, the new drug uses DNA to trick the body's immune system into producing antibodies against the protein's base instead — the "lollipop stick" . And, just one or two shots could provide lifelong protection, say the scientists . Unlike the head, the "stick" changes little from strain to strain, meaning one vaccine should protect against multiple strains of the virus.
Gary Nabel, the institute's director of vaccine research, used the DNA from the protein to trick animals' immune systems into producing antibodies that seek out and destroy the bug. The team then gave a "booster shot" of a harmless flu or cold virus to ratchet up immune response. This primer- booster approach killed off a flu virus from 2007 and one from 1934, despite the DNA coming from a strain circulated in 1999.
A team at the National Institute of Health in Maryland is developing the new vaccine which it claims would fight off all strains of the disease — from the winter flu to deadly pandemic viruses. Described as the " holy grail" of flu research, the scientists say that the jab would be available within five years' time, the Daily Mail reported.
In fact, the new drug uses DNA to trick the body's immune system into producing antibodies against the protein's base instead — the "lollipop stick" . And, just one or two shots could provide lifelong protection, say the scientists . Unlike the head, the "stick" changes little from strain to strain, meaning one vaccine should protect against multiple strains of the virus.
Gary Nabel, the institute's director of vaccine research, used the DNA from the protein to trick animals' immune systems into producing antibodies that seek out and destroy the bug. The team then gave a "booster shot" of a harmless flu or cold virus to ratchet up immune response. This primer- booster approach killed off a flu virus from 2007 and one from 1934, despite the DNA coming from a strain circulated in 1999.
No comments:
Post a Comment