Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gene Therapy May Protect Against Flu

Posted by samzenpus on from the shields-up dept.

sciencehabit writes "In 2009, a global collaboration of scientists, public health agencies, and companies raced to make a vaccine against a pandemic influenza virus, but most of it wasn't ready until the pandemic had peaked. Now, researchers have come up with an alternative, faster strategy for when a pandemic influenza virus surfaces: Just squirt genes for the protective antibodies into people's noses. The method—which borrows ideas from both gene therapy and vaccination, but is neither—protects mice against a wide range of flu viruses in a new study."

2 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Good. For 3 months. by gnoshi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It isn't quite as simple as 'squirt genes for the protective antibodies into people's noses'.
    It is 'squirt a non-replicating virus into people's noses, so the virus can stick the DNA for the protective antibodies into cells'.

    It's a pretty good trick. The cells will start producing the antibody, but they will not pass this property on to subsequent cell generations. That means there is a pretty limited lifespan.
    That can make it really good for pandemics, especially if it is fast to generate. However, for longer-term protection you really still need vaccines.

  2. Re:It is just a matter of time before by TheLink · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A worm or two might help: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/11/15/parasitic-worm-eggs-ease-intestinal-ills-by-changing-gut-macrobiota/
    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/44092.php

    But stool transplants might still be preferable...

    --