The first antibody that combats all influenza viruses, including A (H1N1) causing swine flu, was isolated by a team of researchers from Britain and Switzerland. The discovery is considered an important step in developing a “universal vaccine”.
The antibody – called FI6 – isolated by researchers at the National Institute for Medical Research Mill Hill, London, and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, interacted with all subtypes of influenza A virus, one of the British experts, Sir John Skehel, said, according to bbc.co.uk.
The study, based from experiments on mice, published in Science Express, showed that this antibody can be used as “emergency treatment”.
“We hope that eventually the antibody will be used used as treatment by injection to stop the infection”, said Skehel.
Professor Antonio Lanzavecchia, director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, said that “FI6 is an option for a significant new treatment”, the “first and only antibody that targets all known subtypes of influenza A virus”.
The antibody has been administered to laboratory mice at intervals of up to two days after being infected with swine influenza A (H1N1), in lethal doses, and proved fully effective in combating infection. Mice survived and were cured.
This is, however, only the antibody that could contribute to the development of a vaccine in a few years, said Skehel.
On the other hand, specialists in virology are cataloging the discovery as “an important step forward”, hoping that will be developed as “universal vaccine” against influenzas as the virus changes every year and a new vaccine has to be developed.