London - Scientists have developed a groundbreaking “front-line defence” against flu which could reduce deaths and protect against any strain of the virus.
They claim the treatment, in the form of a nasal spray, could potentially guard against current, future and even pandemic strains of the flu virus.
Researchers at the University of St Andrews said vaccines will still be required but their findings have been described as “very exciting and potentially of great importance in this era”.
Tests on mice at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, showed that a single intranasal dose completely protected the rodents, even when administered seven days before a potentially lethal strain of the H1N1 virus.
As well as surviving, the mice developed antibodies, suggesting they were “vaccinated” against any future exposure.
The research was led by Professor Garry Taylor and Dr Helen Connaris in the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex at St Andrews. Professor Taylor said: “Our solution is about having a front-line defence before a vaccine can be created.
“It will certainly not see us replacing vaccines, but providing something where vaccines may not be effective.”
And Dr Connaris said: “We anticipate our novel preventative approach being used as a frontline defence against new pandemic strains before an effective vaccine is developed, but the approach could also be used routinely against seasonal strains to protect health and care workers.”
Influenza remains a constant worldwide health threat with epidemics claiming up to 500 000 lives each year, according to the World Health Organisation.
Vaccines are not always effective and take time to develop in quantities needed to treat whole populations.
Dr Robert Webster, who holds the Rose Marie Thomas Chair in Virology at St Jude and is a world experts on influenza, said: ‘”The work is very exciting and potentially of great importance in this era of emerging viruses that have pandemic potential.” - Daily Mail