Universal vaccine developed against all forms of influenza for 10 years

American researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed an innovative vaccine called Epigraph, capable of providing protection against multiple strains of influenza A virus, including dangerous variants spreading among humans, pigs, and birds.

The work is published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The key feature of the vaccine is its universality. The Epigraph program, created by scientists, analyzed more than 6,000 strains of influenza virus collected over the past 100 years. The system identified the most stable epitopes - parts of the virus that the immune system responds to. Based on these, a preparation was developed that can handle constantly mutating forms of the virus.

Six-month trials on pigs showed impressive results: the vaccine provided protection against 12 different strains, including the pandemic H1N1 that caused the outbreak in 2009. The studied animals developed a long-lasting immune response which, according to scientists' predictions, may last up to ten years.

Of particular importance is the fact that the vaccine prevents zoonotic transmission - that is, the transmission of the virus between animals and humans. This opens the way to reducing the risk of new pandemics.

In the future, scientists plan to expand testing to H1 and H3 strains, most commonly found among humans. If successful, the new vaccine could become an alternative to the annual flu shot and significantly reduce global influenza incidence.