New single vaccination approach to killer diseases
Tuesday, 21 May 2019
Scientists from the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ’s have developed a single vaccination approach to simultaneously combat influenza and pneumococcal infections, the world’s most deadly respiratory diseases.
The researchers say a single vaccination – combining vaccines from the new class of vaccines they are developing – will overcome the limitations of current influenza and pneumococcal vaccines used around the world.
Published today in the prestigious journal , they have shown that the new Influenza A virus vaccine under development (based on inactivated whole influenza virus) induces enhanced cross-protective immunity to different influenza strains, when it is co-administrated with the new class of pneumococcal vaccine.
They showed the enhancement in immunity is associated with a direct physical interaction between the virus and the bacterium.
Led by Dr and , this latest study, undertaken by postdoctoral researcher Dr , builds on previous research on the development of a new class of inactivated vaccines that target components of both the virus and the bacterium that do not vary from strain to strain.
Current influenza vaccines target surface molecules that are affected by mutations and so an annual update is required to match newly emerging viruses. Existing pneumococcal vaccines provide longer lasting protection, but cover only a minority of disease-causing strains. The researchers say there is a clear need for better vaccines capable of providing universal protect