H1N1 Finding Could Lead to Universal Flu Vaccine
The H1N1 Virus CDC It is said that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and a group of researchers at Emory University and the University of Chicago are putting that mantra to the test in an effort to develop the "holy grail" of flu vaccines. The researchers have found that several patients that were infected during the 2009 H1N1 (don't call it "swine") flu pandemic have developed antibodies that are effective against a variety of influenza strains, potentially leading to a single vaccine that could provide immunity from most or even all flu. The scientists studied a group of nine adult patients who were variously affected by the H1N1 pandemic, some of whom experienced mild illness, others who were hospitalized for severe influenza (some for lengthy periods of time). Blood samples were taken from this group and from that the team isolated white blood cells that had produced antibodies that...