Discovery in 2011 of the target of the second most important group of influenza viruses. On August 12, 2011 Science published our report “A Highly Conserved Neutralizing Epitope on Group 2 Influenza A Viruses”. The crystal structure of this new antibody with the 1968 pandemic H3 strain revealed a highly conserved epitope in the HA stalk distinct from in 2008 found H1 and H5 antibodies. This discovery opened the way to create a cocktail of antibodies to fight influenza A and opened the way towards a universal influenza vaccine.
Publication:
EKIERT, D.C., FRIESEN, R.H., BHABHA, G., KWAKS, T., JONGENEELEN, M., YU, W., OPHORST, C., COX, F., KORSE, H.J., BRANDENBURG, B., VOGELS, R.,
BRAKENHOFF, J.P., KOMPIER, R., KOLDIJK, M.H., CORNELISSEN, L.A., POON, L.L., PEIRIS, M., KOUDSTAAL, W., WILSON, I.A., and GOUDSMIT, J. (2011)
A highly conserved neutralizing epitope on group 2 influenza A viruses.
Science 333 (6044): 843-850.
PubMed publication date: Aug 12, 2011.
PubMed link to abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21737702