Flu “super antibody” may bring universal shot closer

Scientists have found a flu “super antibody” called FI6 that can fight all types of influenza A viruses that cause disease in humans and animals and say their discovery could be a turning point in the development of future flu treatments.

Researchers from Britain and Switzerland used a new method aimed at beating “needle-in-a-haystack-type-odds” and managed to identify an antibody from a human patient which neutralises both main groups of influenza A viruses. Although it is an early step, they said, it is an important one and in time may pave the way for the development of a universal flu vaccine.

Vaccine makers currently have to change the formulations of their flu shots every year to make sure they protect against the strains of the virus circulating. This is a cumbersome process which takes time and money, so the goal is come up with a universal flu vaccine that could protect people from all flu strains for decades, or even for life.

“As we saw with the 2009 pandemic, a comparatively mild strain of influenza can place a significant burden on emergency services. Having a universal treatment which can be given in emergency circumstances would be an invaluable asset,” said John Skehel of Britain’s National Institute for Medical Research, who worked on the study with colleagues from the privately-owned Swiss firm Humabs.

Researchers in the US said last year they were having some degree of success with another possible approach to developing a universal flu shot, using a two-step system of a vaccine using DNA to “prime” the immune system and then using a traditional seasonal flu shot.