Universal flu vaccine tested on humans

Oxford, England -- British researchers are testing a universal flu vaccine on humans in hopes of ending the need for yearly injections.

Current vaccines only work on certain strains of flu, which means a new vaccine must be formulated each year.

"This approach to influenza vaccination is unsatisfactory for use against seasonal influenza, and of little use when new types of flu begin to infect humans from birds," Dr. Sarah Gilbert of the University of Oxford said Friday in a statement.

Gilbert said existing flu vaccines work by inducing protective antibodies to proteins on the outer surface of the influenza virus, while the new vaccine targets internal proteins essential to the flu virus that change very little over time or between strains. Researchers said it is hoped the new vaccine could also offer immunity to a bird flu pandemic.

"By targeting the internal proteins of the virus, we can come up with a universal flu jab," Gilbert said. "The same vaccine would work against all seasonal flu and protect against bird flu."

Twelve volunteers are receiving a single injection of the new vaccine as part of this Phase 1 clinical trial, the university said in a release.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.