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Could a flu vaccine derived from yeast replace annual jabs?
Engineered baker’s yeast produced virus-like particles that triggered antibodies in 18 mice and protected them from three influenza strains, researchers said.
- Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a yeast-based flu vaccine that protected mice against multiple influenza strains, using VLPs as a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional chicken egg methods.
- The world relies on an 80-year-old egg-based method targeting rapidly mutating HA-focused proteins; the team instead targeted the M2 protein, which she said is "far less prone to mutation than HA."
- Graduate student Trang Hoang transformed yeast into VLP "factories" to produce M2 protein; she vaccinated 18 mice with purified VLPs, observing 100% protection when exposed to multiple influenza strains.
- The team licensed the technology to a company developing yeast systems for oral vaccines, with Wen believing engineered yeast strains could eventually be "brewed" as vaccines for influenza and other diseases.
- Although findings in mice are promising, researchers say work remains before the universal flu vaccine is ready for human trials, and they also plan to explore new designs for people with weak immune responses.
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Scientists at the University of Michigan have announced groundbreaking research results on a new flu vaccine that could revolutionize protection against this deadly disease. Their method uses common baker's yeast to quickly and cheaply produce the vaccine, which, in tests on mice, has been shown to provide immunity against a wide range of flu strains. The results were presented at the American Chemical Society conference in Chicago.
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Leaning Left0Leaning Right3Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
C 73%
R 27%
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