Super antibody to fight all flu strains discovered

Scientists have found a flu "super antibody" called FI6 that can fight all types of influenza A viruses that cause disease in humans and animals and say their discovery may be a turning point in the development of flu treatments. Researchers from Britain and Switzerland used a new method aimed at beating "needle-in-a-haystacktype-odds" and managed to identify an antibody from a human patient which neutralizes both main groups of influenza A viruses. Vaccine makers currently have to change the formulations of their flu shots every year to make sure they protect against the strains of the virus circulating. This is a cumbersome process which takes time and money, so the goal is come up with a universal flu vaccine that could protect people from all strains. "As we saw with the 2009 pandemic, a comparatively mild strain of influenza can place a significant burden on emergency services. Having a universal treatment which can be given in emergency circumstances would be an invaluable asset," said John Skehel of Britain''s National Institute for Medical Research, who worked on the study.