Scientists have developed a nasal spray which they claim could be a synthetic universal vaccine for flu, using a genetic region that is common to all strains of the virus.
An international team, led by University of Adelaide, has successfully trialled the synthetic universal flu vaccine in mice, the Journal of General Virology reported.
“Current flu vaccines rely on health authorities being able to predict what the forthcoming viral strain is going to be, and reformulating the vaccines each year accordingly. This is time consuming, labour intensive and expensive, and it’s something that a universal vaccine could overcome.”
“A simple and totally synthetic universal vaccine — one that is not derived from an influenza virus and does not require annual reformulation — would have clear advantages in health clinics to control and prevent the spread of flu,” lead scientist Dr Darren Miller said. The scientists used specific peptides delivered to the noses of mice. The peptides trigger an immune response to a tiny region of the flu virus that is present in all influenza A and B viruses, which effectively neutralises the virus.