Lifelong Immunity From All Influenza Strains Possible

In a recent advancement, a University of Melbourne-led research team has solved the mystery behind the killing of influenza virus by the body’s immune cells. The scientists have indicated that flu-killing immunity cells memorise distinct strains of influensa and destroy it, raising hopes for a new type of influensa vaccine which could provide us with lifelong protection against the disease.

Scientists have been in constant search for a method that will allow them to develop a universal flu vaccine which doesn’t need to be developed each year, unlike the current flu shots because of constant mutation happening in the strains of influensa virus. The new research findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveal how the human immune system’s “killer” CD8+T lymphocytes target new viruses and retain cellular “memories” of virus strains.

According to the Associate Professor Katherine Kedzierska from the University of Melbourne, the Australia-Sino collaboration began during the first outbreak of the avian-derived H7N9 virus in China in 2013 with 99 percent hospitalisation and 30 percent mortality rate among people. During this time, the scientists found that some patients who contracted the H7N9 bird flu recovered more quickly than others. The team carried out their analysis by collecting the samples from infected patients and found that those who couldn't make T cells were the ones who died.

Kedzierska and her team observed that those who recovered appeared to have had an early immunity from so-called killer T-cells. She says, "These cells are like hit men of our immune system and they can efficiently eliminate the virus-infected cells. This is the first time we've shown that those killer T-cells are important in protecting against very serious disease very early on in the infection. Those who lacked the early killer T-cells had a more severe case of influenza or died.”

She further adds, “These findings led to the potential of moving from vaccines for specific influenza strains toward developing a protection, which is based on T-cells. We can provide universal immunity that will recognize a vast array of influenza strains and subtypes including new influenza viruses emerging and infecting humans. It could lead to a one shot influenza jab for life, or [it may need] occasional boosting. We’re aiming for a vaccine that can recognize all the influenza strains, viruses that circulate obviously in humans, as well as in animals, birds, pigs, so we have at least some level of protection."

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