A Melbourne-led study has uncovered how influenza strains mutate and evade our immune systems. Source: AAP
A UNIVERSAL flu vaccine may be closer than ever, with Melbourne researchers saying they've found a way to predict and protect against new strains of the virus.
A study has uncovered how to potentially stop mutating cells of the influenza virus, which normally escape our bodies' white blood cell - or T cell - immunity, the researchers say.
The University of Melbourne, Monash University and international scientists worked together and found how the virus evades our immune systems by introducing specific mutations within its viral proteins, they said in a statement.
The finding may lead to a new universal flu vaccine to better protect against both seasonal and pandemic outbreaks, they believe.
It will also help researchers understand T cell immunity against other viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis C and tumours, the statement said.
Professor Peter Doherty, a lead author of the study from the University of Melbourne, said predicting and designing vaccines to protect against such mutants can promote T cell immunity.
"The studies suggested that an influenza vaccine that targets T cells and recognises distinct virus strains could provide universal immunity against any future influenza strain," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Figures show annual seasonal epidemics of the flu result in three to five million cases of severe illness, and up to 500,000 deaths worldwide.
A new strain of the virus can spread across 74 countries in two months.
AA
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