Discovery in 2012 of a unique antibody that protects against both influenza A and B viruses. The team of Robert Friesen in the Crucell Vaccine Institute discovered one additional antibody, somewhat like the one discovered in 2009, but with one exception. This antibody did not only protect against seasonal influenza A but also against all pandemic influenza virus strains as well as against all influenza B strains. This antibody may inform on development of monoclonal antibody-based treatments and a universal flu vaccine for all influenza A and B viruses. We described this antibody in the 14 september 2012 issue of the scientific magazine Science jointly with the team of Ian Wilson of the Scripps Research Institute under the title : ” Highly Conserved Protective Epitopes on Influenza B viruses “.
Publication:
DREYFUS, C., LAURSEN, N.S., KWAKS, T., ZUIJDGEEST, D., KHAYAT, R.,
EKIERT, D.C., LEE, J.H., METLAGEL, Z., BUJNY, M.V., JONGENEELEN, M.,
VAN DER VLUGT, R., LAMRANI, M., KORSE, H.J., GEELEN, E., SAHIN, O., SIEUWERTS, M., BRAKENHOFF, J.P., VOGELS, R., LI, O.T., POON, L.L., PEIRIS, M., KOUDSTAAL, W., WARD, A.B., WILSON, I.A., GOUDSMIT, J.,
and FRIESEN, R.H. (2012)
Highly conserved protective epitopes on influenza B viruses.
Science 337 (6100): 1343-1348.
PubMed publication date: Sep 14, 2012
PubMed link to abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=22878502