The vaccine to prevent every strain of flu

[Guest guest]

I can't wait....

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23379721-details/The+vaccine+to+p

revent+every+strain+of+flu/article.do

The vaccine to prevent every strain of flu

28.12.06

British scientists are on the verge of producing a revolutionary flu vaccine

that works against all major types of the disease.

Described as the 'holy grail' of flu vaccines, it would protect against all

strains of influenza A - the virus behind both bird flu and the nastiest

outbreaks of winter flu.

Just a couple of injections could give long-lasting immunity - unlike the

current vaccine which has to be given every year.

The brainchild of scientists at Cambridge biotech firm Acambis, working with

Belgian researchers, the vaccine will be tested on humans for the first time

in the next few months.

A similar universal flu vaccine, being developed by Swiss vaccine firm Cytos

Biotechnology, could also be tested on people in 2007 - and the vaccines on

the market in around five years.

Importantly, the vaccines would also be quicker and easier to make than the

traditional jabs, meaning vast quantities could be stockpiled against a

global outbreak of bird flu.

Bachmann, of Cytos, said: " You could really stockpile it. In the case

of a pandemic, that would be a huge advantage.

" If you were to start making a traditional vaccine at the start of a

pandemic, there is no way there would be enough. "

The Government believes a bird flu pandemic is inevitable, killing 50,000

people in Britain alone.

However, it acknowledges that the bug could be much more lethal - infecting

one in two people and claiming more than 700,000 lives.

Normal winter flu can also kill, claiming up to 12,000 lives a year in the

UK.

Although a vaccine exists, constant changes in the virus's appearance have

until now made it impossible to create just one flu vaccine. Instead a new

vaccine is put together each year to protect against the particular strains

circulating at that time.

In addition, the virus used in the jab is grown in hen's eggs - a

time-consuming process that yields just one shot of vaccine per egg.

The new jabs would be grown in huge vats of bacterial 'soup', with just two

pints of liquid providing 10,000 doses of vaccine.

Current flu vaccines focus on two proteins on the surface of the virus.

However, these constantly mutate in a bid to fool the immune system, making

it impossible for vaccine manufacturers to keep up with the creation of each

new strain.

The universal vaccines focus on a different protein called M2, which has

barely changed during the last 100 years.

The protein is found in all types of Influenza A, including the current bird

flu and the virus that caused the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which killed up

to 50 million across the globe.

Normally, such vaccines would have to go through at least five years of

human tests before going on the market. However, if a bird flu pandemic

occurs before that, they could be made more quickly available.

Zurich-based Cytos, which is also developing anti-smoking and obesity

vaccines, has showed that its version of the jab stops mice dying from a

dose of flu strong enough to kill them four-times over.

The vaccinated animals were also spared the fever that normally goes along

with flu.

Although it is too early to say what the effect would be in humans, an

initial course of two or three shots could provide long-lasting immunity,

topped up with booster shots given every five to ten years.

Dr Birkett, of Acambis, said: " It wouldn't be that one shot protects

for life but you would need fewer doses over your lifetime. "

In addition, the jabs could be produced in vast quantities and stockpiled

ahead of a flu pandemic - or even given to people in advance.

In contrast, a traditionally-produced vaccine, matched to the specific

strain of flu, would not be available until around six months after the

start of the pandemic.

The new vaccines only protect against influenza A - the version of the bug

responsible for pandemic flu and the most severe cases of winter flu.

However, it may also be possible to create a similar jab against influenza

B, which causes a milder form of winter flu.

Professor Oxford, Britain's leading flu expert, said the development of

a universal vaccine was the " holy grail " of flu research.

He added: " If you get a M2 vaccine which protects against the whole caboodle

in the same vaccine, the possibilities are huge. "

But, others cautioned that there is no guarantee that the jabs would be as

effective in humans as it has been in animals.

Virologist Professor Ian , of the University of Reading, said: " It is

an encouraging technique which may have a role to play but it is too soon to

assume that it will translate into a universal vaccine in the human

population. "

Dr Jim on, a vaccine expert from the government-funded National

Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said the main advantage of a

universal jab would be lasting immunity.

" If it works, it will be lovely, " he said. " The best result would be that it

would last for a long, long time. "

Dr Ron Cutler, an infectious diseases expert from the University of East

London, said: " Continual protection would be a tremendous advantage against

flu. "

He cautioned however, that there is no guarantee that the M2 protein will

not mutate in the future - meaning the jab will have to be regularly

reformulated.

[Guest guest]

mum2mishka <mum2mishka@...> wrote:

There has been a bit of spippage...Anita

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23379721-details/The+vaccine+to+p

revent+every+strain+of+flu/article.do

The vaccine to prevent every strain of flu

28.12.06

Normal winter flu can also kill, claiming up to 12,000 lives a year in the

UK.

>We all know there comlpications other than flu itself responsible for this

number. many times the allopathic treatment is what does them in...A

The new jabs would be grown in huge vats of bacterial 'soup', with just two

pints of liquid providing 10,000 doses of vaccine.

>Yikes! This sounds positively goulish......A

Current flu vaccines focus on two proteins on the surface of the virus.

However, these constantly mutate in a bid to fool the immune system, making

it impossible for vaccine manufacturers to keep up with the creation of each

new strain.

>An admission they don't work...Anita

Normally, such vaccines would have to go through at least five years of

human tests before going on the market. However, if a bird flu pandemic

occurs before that, they could be made more quickly available.

>What good is any type of testing if the truth is withheld with so many vaccines

being released as " safe " ?....A

Zurich-based Cytos, which is also developing anti-smoking and obesity

vaccines, has showed that its version of the jab stops mice dying from a

dose of flu strong enough to kill them four-times over.

>A mouse is not a man....A

The vaccinated animals were also spared the fever that normally goes along

with flu.

>Spare the fever, spoil the response.....A

Although it is too early to say what the effect would be in humans, an

initial course of two or three shots could provide long-lasting immunity,

topped up with booster shots given every five to ten years.

>I quess their reasoning is " it worked for the mouse " ?.....A

But, others cautioned that there is no guarantee that the jabs would be as

effective in humans as it has been in animals.

>Do they really need to be cautioned? There are always those masters of the

obvious piping in with a reality check, but it never seems to matter...A

Virologist Professor Ian , of the University of Reading, said: " It is

an encouraging technique which may have a role to play but it is too soon to

assume that it will translate into a universal vaccine in the human

population. "

>Really? It's a good thing everyone is in agreement on this in case it fails

miserably...A

Dr Jim on, a vaccine expert from the government-funded National

Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said the main advantage of a

universal jab would be lasting immunity.

>Does he really mean a false sense of lasting immunity caused by long lasting

over-exitement of the humoral arm of the immune system leading to a horrible

array of auto-immune disorders? Of course not....A

" If it works, it will be lovely, " he said. " The best result would be that it

would last for a long, long time. "

>Lovely! Long lasting drug addicted sick allopathically dependant sheeple from

cradle to grave. Lovely I tell you!...A

Dr Ron Cutler, an infectious diseases expert from the University of East

London, said: " Continual protection would be a tremendous advantage against

flu. "

He cautioned however, that there is no guarantee that the M2 protein will

not mutate in the future - meaning the jab will have to be regularly

reformulated.

>Blah Blah Blah! More cautions. Thank you kindly for the vent........Anita