With the flu season among us, it is important that we all take preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of contracting the illness, which can be deadly if left untreated. Currently, the most effective form of flu prevention comes from obtaining a vaccine, which contains antigens that prepare your immune system to fight off the influenza virus, should you encounter it. However, because the particular strains of the virus are different from year to year, new vaccines must be made accordingly to maintain their effectiveness, since the antigens that protect against one strain are unlikely to protect against others. But what if a flu vaccine could be developed such that it offers immunity against all strains of the virus? A recent study suggests that this may be possible in the near future.
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Researchers have found that a novel antibody, called 1G01, is capable of treating mice infected with otherwise lethal doses of many different strains of influenza viruses. The antibody works by targeting and inhibiting neuraminidase, an enzyme whose activity is essential for the virus to spread within its host. However, neuraminidase is not a new target. In fact, many neuraminidase inhibitors have been made and have been used to effectively treat and prevent the flu. Unfortunately these drugs also have limitations, including the inability to successfully target every type of neuraminidase out there. Naturally, the researchers then hypothesized that 1G01 had a unique interaction with neuraminidase which allowed it to remain effective across different variations of the enzyme. They ultimately found that 1G01 targeted the portion of the active site of neuraminidase that is conserved, meaning that the targeted site is largely unchanged and is shared among many strains of influenza viruses. In contrast, other neuraminidase inhibitors target portions of neuraminidase that are variable, or able to be mutated and are different between strains.
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The results of this study indicate that a universal flu vaccine, or a single vaccine that is able to treat and prevent all types of flu infections, is entirely possible. The conserved nature of 1G01’s target suggests that the viruses are likely unable to mutate the site through natural selection in order to evade detection by the antibody because changing the conserved site itself would render the enzyme unable to function. As a result, developing a vaccine that can equip individuals with antibodies that function similarly to 1G01 will help immensely in the ongoing fight against the flu.
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