Influenza, also commonly known as the "flu", kills between 3,300 to 49,000 people in the U.S each year., reports Julie Steenhuysen of Chicago Reuters. Most individuals who are infected with influenza do not need medical assistance, but recent strains of influenza A have emerged that can pose serious health risks.
When the H1N1 pandemic spread in 2009, the human immune system was not able to cope with this foreign strain of influenza. The World Health Organization's Director-General reported that between 20 - 40% of populations in some areas were affected by H1N1. Now, survivors of the swine flu are giving some valuable information to scientists and they may hold the key to a universal flu vaccine.
How The Human Immune System Dealt With H1N1 in 2009
In 2009, the H1N1 strain reached pandemic levels caused fear and panic world-wide. This new strain of flu was affecting individuals differently and was fatal for many. Often, those with weakened or under developed immune systems are at risk for severe side effect from the flu, but the H1N1 strain had been fatal for individuals who were young and otherwise healthy.
What made H1N1 so dangerous for otherwise healthy individuals, was the risk of the body producing a cytokine storm. Cytokines are chemical messengers designed to regulate both the inflammatory response and immune system. When the body's immune system goes into overdrive, trying to fight off the invaders, such as the case with many H1N1 cases, a cytokine storm may arise. This internal storm produces high levels of cytokines that attack both healthy cells and foreign invaders. In the case with H1N1, the body did not know what to attack the virus with, so it attacked with everything it had and for some people, triggered these cytokine storms.
How H1N1 Helped Scientists to Discover a Possible Universal Flu Vaccine
The H1N1 influenza strain was foreign to the human body and since the body was not sure what to do with the strain, it reacted by produces a variety of antibodies that targeted the only part of the strain it recognized. What scientists are discovering now is the part of the strain that it targeted ending up being the critical building blocks of all influenzas.
Dr. Patrick Wilson, an Immunologist at the University of Chicago, says that the antibodies that were produced to defend against H1N1, were also effective against many other strains of influenza. They are proving not only to be effective in combating H1N1 and H5N1 influenza, but also for all the strains from the last decade as well as the 1918 pandemic strain, known as the "Spanish Flu". These antibodies may very well be the key to destroying the lifeline of the flu.
The Future of the Super Influenza Vaccine against Influenza Strains
The universal vaccine, also dubbed the "super flu fighter", has been tested in laboratories and has shown to be effective in many cases at rescuing the test animal from the infection. Dr. Wilson's team has been working on isolating these antibodies since 2009, taking them from nine H1N1 survivors who were infected with the first wave of the pandemic.
It may be years before the vaccine is available for human use. Human trials are now underway and scientists are studying the effects of these antibodies. The Internal Medicine News reports that a European study indicates that the vaccine is 72% effective across seven European countries. Further testing will be required to determine effectiveness and any potential side effects that may result from the vaccine.
Sources:
Reuters "Swine flu survivors developed super flu antibodies" (accessed January 14, 2011)
WGN TV. "Super flu fighters." (accessed January 14, 2011)
Internal Medicine News. " European Study Estimates H1N1 Vaccine Effectiveness at 72%" (accessed January 14, 2011.)
World Health Organization. "H1N1 in post-pandemic period." (accessed January 14, 2011)
Advance for Nurses. "A Cytokine Storm? (accessed January 14, 2011)
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