Why the flames can have the secret to fight the flu

US scientists have recruited a curious ally in their efforts to develop a treatment against influenza: the flame.

The blood of this animal was used to produce a new antibody treatment able to fight against all. types of flu, including pandemics.

Influenza is one of the most clever diseases when it comes to changing its shape and constantly changes its appearance to escape our immune system, which is why vaccines are not always effective and every winter, a new injection is needed to prevent it.

That's why science is looking for a way to end all types of flu, regardless of its strain or degree of mutation.

This is where the flame comes in, better known for its wool.

These animals, typical of the Andes, produce incredibly small antibodies compared to ours.

as weapons of the immune system and adhere to proteins that protrude from the surface of the virus.

Human antibodies tend to attack the end of these proteins, but this is the part where the flu changes most rapidly.

While anti-flame antibodies use their advantageous size to snake deeper and attack parts that the flu can not change.

Synthetic antibodies

A team at the Scripps Institute in California infected llamas with multiple types of influenza to induce an immune response

. flu strains.

Scientists eventually selected four and then began to develop their own synthetic antibody using elements from each of them.

The result was tested on mice subjected to lethal doses of influenza.

] "It's very effective, 60 different types of viruses have been used in the challenge and only one has not been neutralized, it's a virus that does not affect humans," said the professor. Ian Wilson, one of the BBC's Science in Action Program researchers.

"The goal here is to provide something that works from one station to another and also protects you from possible pandemics, if they show up," explained the scientist. 19659006] The work was published in the scientific journal Science and is still in its infancy. The team wants to perform more tests before starting human trials.

The Holy Grail

The researchers used two different techniques to administer antibodies to animals.

The first was to inject them and the second to gene therapy.

The genetic instructions for the development of the antibody were presented in a package. a harmless virus, which was then used to infect the nose of the mice.

And the cells of the lining of the nose began to produce anti-influenza antibodies.

The older the immune system, the less effective the seasonal influenza vaccine becomes.

But this flame treatment does not require training of our immune system.

Professor Jonathan Ball, of the University of Nottingham, told the BBC: "It is very desirable to have a treatment that can act on different strains of the virus.It is the holy grail of the flu. "

" There will be an appetite (for treatment), but it will depend on the quality of its operation, its cost, "he says.