Context:
- Scientists have identified a potential universal influenza vaccine that could protect people against most strains of the virus
Hemagglutinin:
- The candidate vaccine elicited a strong antibody response to a structure on the surface of flu viruses, called the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk
- It has the potential to be developed into a universal flu vaccine, which — unlike the current seasonal flu vaccines — could be given a few times over a lifetime to provide protection potentially similar to a tetanus vaccine
Current usage of vaccines
- Modern viral vaccines typically use lab-grown viral proteins to elicit an immune response that protects people against future exposures to a virus
- Seasonal flu vaccines provide temporary protection against the flu
- This is why they need to be updated every year
- On the whole, this approach has not worked well against influenza viruses
Source:TH