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Steps Toward a Universal Flu Vaccine

Posted by kdawson on from the one-antibody-to-rule-them-all dept.

Plasmoid writes "The NYTimes is reporting that scientists have starting developing what could turn out to be a 'universal' flu vaccine. They created antibody proteins that can neutralize different strains of the influenza virus, including the deadly H5N1 bird flu, the virus behind the 1918 epidemic, and common seasonal strains. These new antibodies target part of the virus that is shared between different strains and thus appear to be broadly effective. However, some experts question whether a universal vaccine of this kind is even possible, since the human body has been unable to come up with an antibody solution. An article on nature.com describes the work further."

5 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Re:is flight impossible too? by phallstrom · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Don't screw with bears... at least not this one!

    http://community.atom.com/Post/An-Ode-to-Voytek-The-Most-Badass-Soldier-in-WWII/03EFBFFFF0182C7B8000800A747EC

  2. Re:Only stupidity is universal. by arekusu_ou · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You're right...that silly Jules Verne, actually thought we'd be up to the moon someday. HAHAHA

    Next all those weirdo reading books about artificial intelligence would actually expect us to do research and developing neural nets.

    And cloning, you can't possibly ever make a genetic duplicate. I mean come on, someone else walking around with your same genes that wasn't born at the same time as you? The odds must be astronomical.

    The point is, imagination and wondering and writing about what could be, can lead people to try to figure out if it's possible or if we even should.

    There are groups in the government that write papers on worse case scenarios and plan for disasters. Of course this was also a bunch of books and movies...so...couldn't possibly happen can it?

  3. Re:From an evolutinary standpoint... by mikael · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Aren't modified flu viruses used to perform "gene therapy" with some rare genetic disorders. What if someone did get the perfect "universal flu vaccine", then found out they had a genetic disorder that could only be fixed using gene therapy?

    I always wondered whether viruses were deliberately created by the cells in all sorts of creatures as a way of spreading beneficial modifications - the only disadvantage being it sometimes ends up reaching the wrong species.

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  4. Re:Only stupidity is universal. by Insanity+Defense · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Playing gods again, are we?

    What do you mean playing? I AM a God.

    ;)

  5. Re:From an evolutinary standpoint... by Opyros · · Score: 2, Interesting

    evolution is only "perfect" over an infinite time frame

    Even over an infinite time span, natural selection may not be perfect in dealing with an enemy which is evolving too!