Flu treatment breakthrough
Monday August 1st, 2011
A newly discovered antibody may be able to combat almost all strains of flu, including swine flu, scientists have reported.
The
discovery of the antibody, known as F16, came from joint work between
Swiss researchers and Britain's Medical Research Council.
Researchers say the antibody came from an infected patient. Laboratory studies suggest it can combat all strains of influenza A, the prime cause of flu epidemics.
Strains of influenza A include the H1N1 swine flu virus and the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The discovery, reported in Science, came using new techniques developed in Switzerland by biotech company Humabs allowing hundreds of thousands of plasma cells, from humans, to be screened for rare immune system reactions.
The F16 antibody was found to work against the protein haemagglutinin - which is found in all strains of influenza A and gives the initial H to names such as H1N1.
Researcher Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia, director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland, said: "The high prevalence of seasonal influenza and the unpredictability of new pandemics highlights the need for better treatments that target all influenza viruses.
"As the first and only antibody which targets all known subtypes of the influenza A virus, FI6 represents an important new treatment option and we look forward to taking it through to the next stage of development."
Fellow researcher Sir John Skehel, of the National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK, added: "It is estimated that every year millions of people are infected with influenza A viruses and although the majority of infections are mild, those in vulnerable groups, such as the very old or the very young, may be worse affected and more likely to die or be hospitalised. 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."
A neutralizing antibody selected from plasma cells that binds to Group 1 and 2 Influenza A hemagglutinin subtypes. Davide Corti1, Jarrod Voss, Steven J. Gamblin, Giosiana Codoni1, Annalisa Macagno1, David Jarrossay1, Sebastien G. Vachieri, Debora Pinna1, Andrea Minola1, Fabrizia Vanzetta, Chiara Silacci1, Blanca M. Fernandez-Rodriguez1, Gloria Agatic, Siro Bianchi, Isabella Giacchetto-Sasselli1, Lesley Calder, Federica Sallusto1, Patrick Collins, Lesley F. Haire, Nigel Temperton, Johannes P.M. Langedijk, John J. Skehel and Antonio Lanzavecchia1. Science: 12 August 2011, Volume 333, #6044
Tags: Europe | Flu & Viruses | Respiratory | UK News
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