Universal vaccine developed against all forms of influenza for 10 years

Breakthrough in medicine: American scientists create universal vaccine against multiple strains of influenza

Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have made a real breakthrough in the fight against influenza, developing an innovative Epigraph vaccine capable of protecting against numerous strains of influenza A virus, including dangerous variants circulating among humans, pigs, and birds.

The research results are published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications.

The uniqueness of the vaccine lies in its universality. The Epigraph program developed by scientists analyzed over 6,000 strains of influenza virus collected over a century-long period. The system identified the most stable epitopes — areas of the virus recognized by the immune system. It was on this basis that a preparation was created, effective against constantly mutating forms of the virus.

Six-month trials on pigs demonstrated amazing results: the vaccine provided reliable protection against 12 different strains, including the infamous pandemic H1N1 that caused a global outbreak in 2009. The test animals developed a strong immune response which, according to researchers' predictions, may last up to ten years.

An extremely important achievement is the vaccine's ability to prevent zoonotic transmission — the transfer of the virus between animals and humans. This opens up prospects for significantly reducing the risk of new pandemics.

In the near future, scientists intend to expand testing to H1 and H3 strains, the most common among humans. With successful results, the new vaccine could replace annual vaccinations and significantly reduce the global burden of influenza.