They find an antibody that affects all types of influenza A virus

2011/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Farmakologia
• Medikuntza
• Mikrobiologia
• Biokimika

A team from the Swiss Institute of Biomedical Research has identified an antibody that affects all subgroups or types of influenza A virus and has released its discovery in the journal Science. Although the antibody itself does not serve to be vaccinated, researchers have shown the hope of developing a more sustainable flu vaccine from it.

The study analyzed the immune cells of eight infected or immunized individuals with different types of viruses, namely white blood cells that produce antibodies. As analyzing more than one hundred thousand cells of this type, they find an antibody that affects the sixteen subtypes of influenza A virus.

Subsequently, using X-ray crystallography, they have found that this antibody is associated with the superficial hemoglutinin protein of the virus. Unlike most antibodies, it is associated with the foot of the protein, not the head. This region is more sensitive in case of mutations, so it is more stable. For this reason, researchers believe that a vaccine that could attack it would be more useful than the current vaccine.