Saint Louis University researchers are developing vaccines that will be effective against different strains of influenza A and B viruses, as a first step toward a universal vaccine that would be given along with the seasonal vaccine to expand coverage
As the world deals with the swine flu epidemic that started in Mexico and spread to many countries around the world, it appears that a flu vaccine that will protect against death and severe complications from different strains of flu is closer to becoming a reality. This is what researchers from the Center for Vaccine Research at Saint Louis University found out.
"This is the first significant step in the development of a universal vaccine that will make it possible to protect against influenza epidemics," said Dr. Robert Belshe, Director of the Immunization Research Center at Saint Louis University. Belsha, the lead researcher in the study of a vaccine designed to protect against influenza A and B strains, presented the team's findings at the Infectious Diseases Research Foundation conference currently taking place in Baltimore.
Pharmaceutical companies now produce a different vaccine each year to accommodate the different strains that researchers predict will begin circulating around the world. Adding a universal vaccine to the seasonal vaccine will allow for improved protection against flu strains that change from year to year. "New vaccines capable of providing a long-term and broad-spectrum vaccine against diverse strains, including viruses that can cause epidemics, are a very necessary thing," says Balsha.
As part of the study, 377 healthy adult volunteers received three injections of the universal vaccine component Bivalent Influenza Peptide Conjugate Vaccine (BIPCV) over a six-month period.
The researchers found that low doses of the vaccine are tolerable and safe. In addition, low doses of the vaccine stimulate the immune response - the body produces a large amount of antibodies - at levels similar to those given to protect small animals affected by the flu from severe illness and death. However, according to Balsha, additional experiments are required.
The researchers are also confident in the light of the study, that giving such a vaccine during the outbreak of flu epidemics could reduce mortality.
Updates in Israel
So far, two patients have been hospitalized in Israel who have been diagnosed with certainty. One of them is hospitalized at Laniado Hospital in Netanya. A 9-year-old boy was hospitalized at the "Dana" children's hospital in Tel Aviv on suspicion of contracting the swine flu, after being on the same flight as the man who was earlier announced to have been infected with the virus. Passengers of El Al flight 026 that landed from New York on Sunday are asked to be checked by a doctor if they develop signs of the flu
to the notice of the researchers
On the same topic on the science website
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The reimbursement flu is an invention of the agents of Rumsfield's pharmaceutical factory, the US Secretary of Defense. In the past, with panic came the money
Yes indeed... as if there is no precedent for diseases that break out as a result of continuous interaction between humans and livestock.
No terror and no shoes. But if your heart desires a conspiracy, say that the spread of the disease is terrorism. Evil agents hang around hospitals, get infected and fly around the world and in the process they turn their noses up at every passerby.
1, it seems to me that this is an experiment, or some kind of terrorist attack
Interestingly, it developed itself that it was a biological experiment.
In the meantime, rank 5 has been announced.
Which means the disease is contagious between people. And there is a fear of a high spread of the disease.
BiondVax should also be mentioned
An Israeli company that develops a "universal" flu vaccine based on the discoveries of Prof. Ruth Arnon from the Weizmann Institute,
So it is possible that the claim that "this is the first significant step..." is somewhat exaggerated.