Scientists of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), U.S.A, have found a potential universal Influenza vaccine which could protect people against most strains
of the virus.
a. Ebola
b. Influenza
c. Swine Flu
d. None of the above
About the Vaccine:
- It is a strong antibody response to a structure on the surface of flu viruses called the Hemagglutinin (HA) stalk.
- It has the potential to be developed into a universal flu vaccine.
- Unlike the current seasonal flu vaccines, it could be given a few times over a lifetime to provide protection potentially similar to a tetanus vaccine.
Interesting to know:
- Flu viruses are classified by two proteins on the outer surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).
- There are 18 different H subtypes and 11 different N subtypes, and viruses can be further broken down into different strains within those subtypes.
- The H protein (also called HA) enables the flu virus to enter a human cell.
- It is made up of a head and a stem.
- Seasonal flu vaccines fight infection by inducing antibodies that target the HA head.
- This region varies season to season, which is why flu vaccines must be updated each year.
- However, scientists discovered the stem typically remains unchanged, making it an ideal target for antibodies induced by a universal flu vaccine.
Question:
Scientists of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), U.S.A, have found a potential universal vaccine for which disease?a. Ebola
b. Influenza
c. Swine Flu
d. None of the above
