A potential strategy for creating a universal influenza vaccine has been discovered through recent research by Oregon Health & Science University. This vaccine, known as a “one and done” vaccination, offers lifetime immunity against a constantly changing virus.
Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Researchers found that when nonhuman primates were exposed to the avian H5N1 influenza virus, the vaccination produced a strong immunological response. However, the vaccination was developed against the 1918 influenza virus, which killed millions worldwide, rather than the modern H5N1 virus.
It’s exciting because in most cases, this kind of basic science research advances the science very gradually; in 20 years, it might become something,
This could actually become a vaccine in five years or less.
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
Six out of eleven nonhuman primates who received an inoculation against the 1918 flu virus, which was prevalent a century ago, reportedly withstood exposure to H5N1, one of the worst viruses now circulating in the globe. On the other hand, six uninfected monkeys in the control group that were infected with the H5N1 virus died from the illness.
Sacha expressed his belief that the platform has the potential to be beneficial against other viruses that are evolving, such as SARS-CoV-2.
It’s a very viable approach, For viruses of pandemic potential, it’s critical to have something like this. We set out to test influenza, but we don’t know what’s going to come next.
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
Should a deadly virus such as H5N1 infect a human and ignite a pandemic, we need to quickly validate and deploy a new vaccine.
Douglas Reed, Ph.D.
This strategy makes use of a vaccination platform that OHSU researchers previously created to combat TB and HIV. The vaccine platform is now being employed in an HIV clinical study.
The process entails introducing tiny fragments of the intended pathogens into the cytomegalovirus, often known as CMV, a common herpes virus that affects most individuals at some point in their lives and usually causes minimal or nonexistent symptoms. The virus functions as a vector that is particularly engineered to cause the body’s T cells to mount an immunological response.
This strategy is different from that of typical vaccinations, such as the current flu vaccine, which aim to elicit an antibody response against the virus’s most recent evolution, which may be identified by the arrangement of proteins covering its outer surface.
The problem with influenza is that it’s not just one virus,
Like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it’s always evolving the next variant and we’re always left to chase where the virus was, not where it’s going to be.
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
On the outside of the virus, spike proteins change over time to evade antibodies. When it comes to the flu, vaccinations are updated regularly based on the most accurate prediction of the virus’s future generation. It’s correct at times, but not always.
On the other hand, effector memory T cells are a particular kind of T cell found in the lungs that targets the internal structural proteins of the virus instead of its constantly changing outer envelope. T cells may use this intrinsic structure, which is rather stable over time, to locate and eliminate any influenza virus-infected cells, whether they are old or recently developed.
Using the 1918 influenza virus as a model, scientists created a CMV-based vaccine to test their T cell theory. They exposed the vaccinated nonhuman primates to small particle aerosols containing the avian H5N1 influenza virus, an exceptionally severe virus that is currently circulating among dairy cows in the United States, while they were working in a highly secure biosafety level 3 laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh.
Surprisingly, six of the eleven monkeys who received the vaccination survived the exposure despite the virus evolving over a century ago.
It worked because the interior protein of the virus was so well preserved,
So much so, that even after almost 100 years of evolution, the virus can’t change those critically important parts of itself.
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
The research increases the possibility of creating a vaccination that protects humans against H5N1.
Inhalation of aerosolized H5N1 influenza virus causes a cascade of events that can trigger respiratory failure,
The immunity induced by the vaccine was sufficient to limit virus infection and lung damage, protecting the monkeys from this very serious infection.
Simon Barratt-Boyes, Ph.D.
The current study indicates CMV vaccines may be able to produce an efficient, long-lasting immune response against a broad range of novel variations by synthesising more recent viral templates.
Also, Read| Innovative microscopy traces amyloid beta’s underlying structure for neurodegenerative disease research
I think it means within five to 10 years, a one-and-done shot for influenza is realistic.
It’s a massive sea change within our lifetimes,
There is no question we are on the cusp of the next generation of how we address infectious disease.
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
The Tulane National Primate Research Centre, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Washington, and the Washington National Primate Research Centre at the University of Washington were among the research institutes that participated in the study in addition to OHSU.
Source: Oregon Health & Science University News.
Journal Reference: Malouli, Daniel, et al. “Cytomegalovirus Vaccine Vector-induced Effector Memory CD4 + T Cells Protect Cynomolgus Macaques from Lethal Aerosolized Heterologous Avian Influenza Challenge.” Nature Communications, vol. 15, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-12, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50345-6.
Last Modified:
