US researchers develop experimental treatment against strains of influenza

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A team of US researchers is developing a new experimental treatment that protects against several influenza strains, while the flu virus kills more than 650 people a year and it's not enough to have an annual vaccine to protect against infection, the virus is not eliminated by the vaccine currently available.

A research paper from the Scripps Research Institute said that the mechanism of action of the vaccine will depend on the stimulation of antibodies in the body to fight viruses.

"Ten years ago, the role of the NPR molecule in strengthening the body's human defenses against the influenza virus was not known, but it can be controlled to induce antibodies in order to Improve protection, "said Ian Wilson, a biologist at the institute.

The vaccine has only been tested on mice to date and has shown a 100% success rate, even in mice exposed to lethal levels of influenza virus.

According to the researchers, the new treatment has shown its effectiveness in treating laboratory-grown lung cells, which could pave the way for launching clinical trials.

"It's an interesting study," said Jesse Bloom, a virus scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "We need extra medicines in our fight against the flu."