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Full Version: US begins testing a universal flu vaccine
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The vaccine is made up of four strains of avian flu virus and will be administered in up to 100 healthy volunteers.

BLP-1357 is composed of four strains of non-infectious, chemically inactivated, low-pathogenicity avian flu virus, according to an NIH press release.

Up to 100 healthy volunteers between the ages 18 and 55 can be enrolled in the  placebo-controlled, single-site trial. The launch comes after trials conducted in mice and ferrets showed promising responses to the whole-virus vaccine.

“With the BPL-1357 vaccine, especially when given intranasally, we are attempting to induce a comprehensive immune response that closely mimics immunity gained following a natural influenza infection,” said lead investigator Matthew J. Memoli in the release.

“This is very different than nearly all other vaccines for influenza or other respiratory viruses, which focus on inducing immunity to a single viral antigen and often do not induce mucosal immunity.”

https://thehill.com/changing-america/wel...u-vaccine/
“Our study will examine the safety of BPL-1357 and also will allow us to assess the importance of mucosal immunity against flu and whether a strategy of inducing both the cellular and antibody arms of the immune system can provide broader protection against the ever-changing influenza virus,” he added.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-rel...cal-center