Scientists have recentally been studying on how to improve flu vaccines for the future. They believe they have came up with a way to improve the vaccines by just simply substituting an amino acid. Every 3 to 4 years the outer coat of the flu (Made of amino acids) evolves. This prevents antibodies from recognizing the flu. They found that seasonal flu escapes immunity and develops into new strains typically by just a single amino acid substitution. Until now, it was widely believed that in order for seasonal flu to escape the immunity individuals acquire from previous infections or vaccinations, it would take at least four amino acid substitutions. They also found that such single amino acid changes occurred at only seven places on its surface -- all located near the receptor binding site (the area where the flu virus binds to and infects host cells). This is a huge breakthrough in understanding the flu and eventually scientists hope to be able to predict when the flu is going to change. The flu is responsible for half a millon deaths and many more hospitiziled.
Family with the flu. Scientists have identified a potential way to improve future flu vaccines after discovering that seasonal flu typically escapes immunity from vaccines with as little as a single amino acid substitution. (Credit: © Creativa / Fotolia)
No comments:
Post a Comment