One of the Rarest Microbes on Earth

TL;DR

Researchers are using the mRNA technology from COVID-19 vaccines to create a universal flu vaccine that can protect against multiple variants of influenza.

Transcript

Thanks to Linode for supporting this episode of SciShow News. You can go to linode.com/scishow to learn more and get a $100 60-day credit on a new Linode account. [♪ INTRO] While COVID-19 is fresher on our minds, influenza has been causing pandemics as recently as 2009. Seasonal flu vaccines help manage the most commonly circulating flu strain in a... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 Influenza A and B are responsible for flu outbreaks, and influenza A can cause pandemics.
• 😳 The same mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines is being utilized for a universal flu vaccine.
• 😃 The vaccine contains mRNA for all 20 known subtypes of influenza A and B viruses.
• 😳 Animal trials have shown survival and protection against multiple flu strains with the new vaccine.
• 😳 Antibodies produced by the vaccine neutralize all 20 subtypes of flu virus.
• 😳 The vaccine provides baseline protection against a wide variety of flu strains and could be effective against future pandemic-causing strains.
• 👻 The mRNA technology allows for the incorporation of multiple antigens into the same vaccine.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the mRNA universal flu vaccine differ from existing seasonal flu vaccines?

The mRNA vaccine contains genetic information for the H subtype from all 20 known subtypes of influenza A and B viruses. It incorporates unique antigens for each subtype, unlike conventional vaccines.

Q: Can the mRNA technology be used to target other viruses besides COVID-19 and the flu?

Yes, mRNA technology has the potential to target various viruses by programming the body to produce specific antigens.

Q: How long do the antibodies produced by the mRNA universal flu vaccine last?

Animal trials showed that the antibodies stick around for about four months, similar to current seasonal vaccines.

Q: Does the mRNA universal flu vaccine protect against unfamiliar flu strains?

The vaccine minimizes the severity of infection from unfamiliar H surface proteins, making the illness less severe and helping recipients recover faster.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Influenza vaccines are not effective against all variants of the flu, leading to the potential for future flu pandemics.

• A new vaccine using mRNA technology has been successful in reducing severe flu infection in animal trials, with antibodies neutralizing all 20 subtypes of flu virus.

• The vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent infection but minimizes the severity of the virus and provides baseline protection against a wide variety of flu strains.