Universal Flu Vaccine Study Yields Success in Mice

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have successfully tested a universal flu vaccine on mice. This vaccine was administered through a nasal spray and consisted of certain peptides that trigger the immune system against a small region that is supposedly the same in all influenza A and B viruses. The vaccine gave the mice complete protection against a strain of the flu known as H3N2 and 20% protection from the bird flu. A universal flu vaccine would have many advantages over the current vaccine. The production cost for the current vaccine is very high because it has to be redesigned each year. With a universal vaccine, this cost could be greatly reduced. In addition, the universal vaccine is completely synthetic and wouldn't be a problem for those who are hypersensitive to components of the current vaccine. I found this article interesting because I recently got over the flu and really wish that I had gotten the vaccine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110218092541.htm