Access

Published online 22 February 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.116

News

New antibodies block a range of influenzas

Discovery hints at the possibility of broad-spectrum vaccines.

Researchers have identified a group of antibodies that neutralize a wide range of influenza viruses, including the H5N1 avian influenza, the 1918 Spanish flu and some seasonal strains. These molecules may one day be used therapeutically to protect patients against a broad array of strains.

Comments

Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email webadmin@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.

  • One wonders about intentions and motives here. The human body already has the most advanced nanotechnology as evidenced in the article. The immune system is dysfunctional in most due to malnutrition and biochemical deficiency and imbalance. Perhaps we should fix that problem first. Although this natural fix is not as profitable as patenting some new drug or artificial fix, it is the optimum. Why not promote the natural means of boosting the immune system with compounds native to the body? Google the "End of disease" for a revelation

    • 22 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Richard Thomas
  • I can still remember the time when Taiwan was suffered from the threat of SARs. In my plant, we have to measure and report body temperature twice a day. Being specially monitored because my father stayed in hospital at that time. Everyone was buying masks, that makes the supply of mask could not meet the demand. Everyone wore mask on the street, in a store, or a meeting becase of fear of SARs. One can Only get relieved when alone. Even a doctor was infected and died when intubating a SARs patient this patient vomit onto him. A lot of doctors were fear of dealing with patient who had simply a usualy flu. A hospital and people who were happened to be there were isolated and forbidden to come out. The government was trying to contain the risk by sacrificing a group of people's right and put those people's life in danger. Actually, the threaten of avain flu is much more than SARs. Any research to help with this is valuable. This is a breakthrough and hope this could turn into a market available vaccine as soon as possible to save more people's live.

    • 23 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Peter Huang
  • Given how the immune system generates new antibodies, with billions of possible combinations, it is likely that some individuals would possess circulating antibodies against H5. I would suspect that these people are more resistant to the flu, though it may be difficult to isolate such antibodies from a patient.

    • 24 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Warren Francis
  • What about people who have auto-immune disorders? Will this alternative type of antibody be an advantage in that it will be unable to attack one's own cells and will fight off infections which tend to boost production of the conventional antibodies, or will it actually become part of the problem? Conventional flu shots are bad for such people because they boost production of the same antibodies which are binding to the person's own tissue and thus causing the disorder. But maybe this new type of antibody cannot do that?

    • 24 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Shawn Rutledge
  • That is not surprising given the body`s wonderful defences.Actually by more medication and psychological dependence or fear of illness we are suppressing the immune system.There is particular methodology that I have empirically verified,through traditional medical practitioners.It is based on a method of internalised breathing and meditation,coupled to largely vegetarian diet,and very low stress levels [which incidentally comes from the breathing method.].The method is similar to breathing during sleep,when the breath moves largely up and down in the body,rather than in-out,as is usual in wakeful hours.I have found that many who do this at least 3-4 times a week,for 10-15 minutes a day are not susceptible to major infections,and if at all fall sick ,do recover quickly with simple herbal medications Thanks SURESHKUMAR.S,SCIENTIST AND ADVISER,NIIST,CSIR,TRIVANDRUM,INDIA

    • 01 Mar, 2009
    • Posted by: suresh kumar