Researchers and scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have reported the discovery of human antibodies that could protect against H5N1 bird flu and other strains of influenza A viruses like the seasonal influenza viruses and the past pandemic influenza viruses. Scientists hope that this discovery could lead to the development of lifesaving treatments that would set off flu vaccines in case of bird flu outbreaks.
Over 180 people worldwide have been killed by the H5N1 bird flu virus since 2003. H5N1 is a strain of avian influenza virus. In 2004, H5N1 caused an outbreak that swept over some Asian countries, affecting millions of chickens and other birds. A few cases of humans infected with the H5N1 virus have also been reported. They became seriously ill and some have even died.
In an issue published on the Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, researchers reported that the antibodies neutralized numerous types of influenza A virus, like the H5N1 bird flu virus, in tests done on mice. The human immune system produces proteins called antibodies to attach to invaders such as bacteria and viruses and then neutralize them. In this study, the researchers isolated the antibodies in the immune system proteins from 57 volunteers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The study was done in association with Harvard Medical School in Boston.
According to Robert Liddington of the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, they were surprised to discover that the antibodies neutralized other influenza viruses such as the seasonal H1N1 flu virus. Seasonal influenza occurs annually, causing mild to severe illness. In fact, seasonal influenza has caused over 250,000 deaths around the world each year. Yearly vaccination is the best protection against this kind of illness although they are not always as effective since the vaccine must be annually updated.
Article Source: Reuters, Harvard Science, BBC.