One Time Flu Shot May Be Just Within Our Reach

Due to the rapidly mutating nature of the flu virus, flu vaccines need to be redesigned yearly in order to fight the new strains of flu that are circulating in the population every year. Even with these vaccines, they still do not fully protect everyone.

Researchers at MIT and the Ragon Institute of MIT, MGH, and Harvard are currently working on new ways to develop a universal flu vaccine, one that can work against any flu strain. The team said that the vaccine can stimulate an immune response against an influenza protein segment that rarely mutates and not normally targeted by the immune system.

An experiment with mice that have a humanized immune system led to the findings that the vaccine can trigger an antibody response that targets the elusive protein segment, which may be indicative of the vaccine being effective against many strains of flu.

This vaccine consists of nanoparticles coated with flu proteins which trigger the immune system to create the desired antibodies. 

Arup K. Chakraborty, professor of physics and chemistry at MIT, mentioned how exciting this work is. With a single or routine flu shot, the result is protection against seasonal flu strains and pandemic strains.

(Photo: pixabay)

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How Flu Vaccines Work

Most flu vaccines contain inactivated flu viruses. Once vaccinated, the immune system generates antibodies that target the protein coating of the virus, known as hemagglutinin (HA).

These antibodies almost always bind to the head of the HA protein, because of its accessibility. Compared to the HA stem where most HA proteins are densely clustered on the surface of the virus, making it difficult for the antibodies to gain access to the stem region. 

The head region is the part of the protein that mutates most rapidly, while the HA stem rarely mutates. 

Their study focuses on how to redirect the immune system's attention to the stem. The resulting vaccine could elicit antibodies known as "broadly neutralizing antibodies," which can recognize and respond to any flu strain.

Based on the findings, the team found out that by refocusing the immune system's attention, they can redirect the antibody response to the target. This kind of response can protect people from various flu strains that mimic pandemic threats.

Why Should You Get Flu Vaccine?

Despite its ever-changing nature, it is still important to get your annual flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza is a potentially serious disease, and due to the different strains every season, it can affect people differently. This can lead to hospitalization and even flu-related deaths. Getting a yearly flu shot is still the best way to protect yourself against the flu. 

The effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies from season to season depending on factors like age and health of the person being vaccinated. 

While you may still get sick even after vaccination, it reduces the severity of the illness, shortens hospital stays, and reduced deaths compared to those who got sick but were not vaccinated.

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