Universal vaccine possible say researchers

Researchers are working on a cellular immunity based vaccine for avian influenza, rather than the traditional method of provoking an antibody response.

Dr Colin Butter, of the Pirbright Institute, who is leading the research team, says a universal vaccine for avian flu is possible. He added that it may be possible to produce vaccines that protect against a wide range of influenza viruses.

The research team are currently studying the internal proteins the virus, in order to see if a vaccine that works across a range of subtypes and strains would be attainable - rather than one that elicits antibodies to neutralise the virus.

Although there are high hopes amongst the researchers at both Pirbright and the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute, they say it could take a number of years before a universal vaccine is produced.

So far, the researchers are able to partially protect against the H7N7 strain of the virus.

"This is very much the early round of the experiments," said Dr Butter. "With further refinement we may get a lot more than partial protection. We view this as being used in conjunction with a vaccine designed to elicit an antibody response.

"This would give far more robust and cross-protective immunity and one less likely to be evaded by the virus changing. The buzzword we use is 'sustainable'."

Avian flu continues to present a danger to the £8 billion UK poultry industry. Worldwide, outbreaks of the flu are difficult to contain as the vaccines are often specific to particular strains that constantly mutate.

In the last few weeks outbreaks of avian flu have been reported in Russia, Taiwan, India and Australia.