Universal flu vaccine tests start

[Guest guest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7577501.stm

A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual jab is

being tested on UK volunteers.

It targets a different part of the virus to current vaccines, which

means it does not have to be altered every year to match circulating

strains.

If successful, the vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers

would also be a key weapon in a flu pandemic.

Experts said such a vaccine was the " holy grail " for flu researchers

but there was still a long way to go.

Study leader, Dr Gilbert, said traditional influenza vaccines

are designed to prompt an immune response to H and N proteins on the

outer shell of the virus.

But these proteins are prone to mutation - and every year the vaccine

has to be reformulated on the basis of the strains likely to be most

prominent.

So instead, the researchers have developed a vaccine on the basis of

proteins inside the cell, which are far more similar across different

strains.

The vaccine uses a weakened smallpox virus to carry the proteins into

the body - a technique that has already been used in malaria and TB

vaccines.

Once the virus has invaded the cell and starts to multiply, these

inner proteins called matrix protein 1 and nucleo-protein, are

revealed to the immune system.

A specific type of immune cell, called a T cell, then learns to

recognise and destroy cells containing the proteins the next time it

encounters them.

" With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone

vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see

it anymore "

Dr Gilbert

Tests

Initially 12 people will be vaccinated to test the dose before further

studies are done to check its effectiveness in people exposed to flu.

Dr Gilbert said if they were successful it could drastically change

the way flu vaccine is used.

" With having to make new vaccine every year there's never enough to go

around.

" With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone

vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see

it anymore. "

In the case of a pandemic, stockpiles of the vaccine could be made in

advance instead of having to wait for an outbreak to then identify the

particular strain of flu.

Potentially, once people had received the vaccine they would only need

a booster once every five to10 years.

But she added the research team had five to 10 years of further tests

ahead of them.

However, it is hoped a similar approach might eventually also be used

to combat HIV, TB, malaria and even cancer.

Professor Oxford, a flu vaccine expert at Queen , University

of London said such a vaccine would be the " ultimate prize " .

" But it's a fairly difficult prize to get - it may just be a question

of luck.

" There are people trying all kinds of strategies. "

He added that having to manufacture different flu vaccines every year

was a " huge burden " on pharmaceutical companies.

" This team have experience with this type of vaccine so they may well

get there. "

[Guest guest]

Just the word vaccine makes my blood boil am i crazy? If it's not broke why fix it ?

Probably these people that get flu have already been weekend by the medical profession.

If you have a healthy life style i am sure non of these things would ever get a foot hold.

tricia

no-forced-vaccination From: ReikiMatrix@...Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 17:33:54 +0000Subject: Universal flu vaccine tests start

By Emma Wilkinson Health reporter, BBC News

Prof Hill explains the vaccine.

A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual jab is being tested on UK volunteers.

It targets a different part of the virus to current vaccines,which means it does not have to be altered every year to matchcirculating strains.

If successful, the vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers would also be a key weapon in a flu pandemic.

Experts said such a vaccine was the "holy grail" for flu researchers but there was still a long way to go.

Study leader, Dr Gilbert, said traditionalinfluenza vaccines are designed to prompt an immune response to H and Nproteins on the outer shell of the virus.

Withthis vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone vaccinated -a situation more like measles where you don't really see it anymore

Dr Gilbert

But these proteins are prone to mutation - and every year thevaccine has to be reformulated on the basis of the strains likely to bemost prominent.

So instead, the researchers have developed a vaccine on thebasis of proteins inside the cell, which are far more similar acrossdifferent strains.

The vaccine uses a weakened smallpox virus to carry theproteins into the body - a technique that has already been used inmalaria and TB vaccines.

Once the virus has invaded the cell and starts to multiply,these inner proteins called matrix protein 1 and nucleo-protein, arerevealed to the immune system.

A specific type of immune cell, called a T cell, then learns torecognise and destroy cells containing the proteins the next time itencounters them.

Tests

Initially 12 people will be vaccinated to test the dose beforefurther studies are done to check its effectiveness in people exposedto flu.

HOW FLU VACCINE WORKS

New universal flu vaccine is injected into the arm and is taken up by healthy cells.

Cells containing vaccine attract immune cells which multiply and move around the body.

Immune cells now trained to recognise proteins inside virus, which enters body via airways.

Killer immune cells recognise flu-infected cells and destroy them along with flu virus.

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Dr Gilbert said if they were successful it could drastically change the way flu vaccine is used.

"With having to make new vaccine every year there's never enough to go around.

"With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyonevaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really seeit anymore."

In the case of a pandemic, stockpiles of the vaccine could bemade in advance instead of having to wait for an outbreak to thenidentify the particular strain of flu.

Potentially, once people had received the vaccine they would only need a booster once every five to10 years.

But she added the research team had five to 10 years of further tests ahead of them.

However, it is hoped a similar approach might eventually also be used to combat HIV, TB, malaria and even cancer.

Professor Oxford, a flu vaccine expert at Queen ,University of London said such a vaccine would be the "ultimate prize".

"But it's a fairly difficult prize to get - it may just be a question of luck.

"There are people trying all kinds of strategies."

He added that having to manufacture different flu vaccines every year was a "huge burden" on pharmaceutical companies.

"This team have experience with this type of vaccine so they may well get there."

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