In a study from the University of Minnesota, scientists developed a new mRNA vaccine strategy to fight the flu.
The new mRNA flu vaccine strategy involves a first dose administered as a shot but a booster administered as an mRNA nasal spray.
The vaccine is known as a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine that targets influenza’s viral nucleoprotein.
The structure in the influenza A virus is a highly conserved multi-functional protein and is a key target in vaccine and antiviral research because it is less likely to mutate compared with viral surface proteins.
Messenger RNA vaccine technology, once an arcane area of research, became household terminology because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the study, the team tried to craft a vaccine—and method of vaccine administration—that helps conquer one of humankind’s most persistent foes: the flu.
The goal was an mRNA flu vaccine strategy that prompts resident memory T cells to fan out in the lungs and to be prepared in the event of infection.
The strategy they devised for the research—which worked—involved an initial prime and boost with intramuscular vaccination followed by a secondary intranasal booster.
This strategy efficiently promoted the memory of CD4 and CD8 T cells in lung tissue.
The findings help highlight how mRNA vaccine technology can be adapted to protect the lungs from any respiratory infection.
The team found while intramuscular prime and boost immunizations were sufficient to induce respiratory resident memory T cells in the animal models, an additional intranasal boost further expanded both circulating and lung resident memory T cells.
The initial analysis demonstrated that respiratory resident memory T cells insinuated themselves in lung tissue becoming long-term residents after the prime-boost intramuscular administration.
The intranasal booster, which further increased the number of respiratory resident memory T cells, helped establish memory CD4 and CD8 T cells, circulating and residing in the lungs.
The new research shows potential for new ways to administer an mRNA to achieve an immunological goal, arriving following the success of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Scientists are also moving ahead with research on mRNA vaccines for a large number of diverse medical disorders, including various forms of cancer, rare diseases, and yes, numerous infectious diseases.
The new influenza research underscores that mRNA technology is not only robust but capable of being explored as a highly tailored weapon against the flu.
If you care about the flu, please read studies that the common painkiller ibuprofen may strongly influence your liver, and how to treat your flu at home.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about whether combined COVID-flu vaccines is a good idea, and results showing flu vaccine can reduce your risk of stroke.
The study was conducted by Dr. Marco Künzli et al and published in Science Immunology.
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