Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: thedoc on 08/07/2011 09:49:09

Title: Is a universal vaccine for the 'flu feasible?
Post by: thedoc on 08/07/2011 09:49:09

A universal 'flu vaccine capable of protecting people against multiple strains of the virus has come a step closer, scientists in the US are reporting this week...

Read the whole story on our  website by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/2324/)

  

Title: Is a universal vaccine for the 'flu feasible?
Post by: CliffordK on 08/07/2011 10:03:33

Interesting... and great news.  Perhaps there will be an end to the need for an annual flu shot.  Of course, it could cost the industry billions of dollars!!!

I wonder if some people spontaneously develop multi-virus flu antibodies.  I certainly never remember getting the fulminant aching pain type flu that some people get.

Title: Is a universal vaccine for the 'flu feasible?
Post by: grizelda on 13/07/2011 10:45:56

The 'flu virus seems happy to mutate just enough to maintain its prevalence in one form or another, playing cat and mouse with our antibody system. I wonder if creating a universal 'flu vaccine will cause it to mutate in some new direction which is more lethal and virulent, sort of upsetting the balance we have now.

Title: Is a universal vaccine for the 'flu feasible?
Post by: WorldOfBiochemistry on 19/07/2011 18:25:08

The mutation rate will always be a problem. "What is effective today might not be tomorrow..."