Flu Vaccine Protects Nonhuman Primates Against Avian H5N1

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) researchers developed a universal influenza vaccine incorporating multiple strains of the virus, producing robust immunity in primer tests. The vaccine was based on conserved antigens of the deadly 1918 influenza virus and focused on inducing a T-cell response. Six out of eleven monkeys tested survived exposure to deadly H5N1 influenza. The work is a radical development in ongoing research to prevent infectious diseases. The lead researchers predict a global influenza shot could be available in five to ten years.