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| Universal flu vaccine tests start | Universal flu vaccine tests start |
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| A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual jab is being tested on UK volunteers. | A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual jab is being tested on UK volunteers. |
| It targets a different part of the virus to current vaccines, which means it does not have to be altered every year to match circulating strains. | It targets a different part of the virus to current vaccines, which means it does not have to be altered every year to match circulating strains. |
| If successful, the vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers would also be a key weapon in a flu pandemic. | If successful, the vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers would also be a key weapon in a flu pandemic. |
| Experts said such a vaccine was the "holy grail" for flu researchers but there was still a long way to go. | Experts said such a vaccine was the "holy grail" for flu researchers but there was still a long way to go. |
| Study leader, Dr Sarah Gilbert, said traditional influenza vaccines are designed to prompt an immune response to H and N proteins on the outer shell of the virus. | Study leader, Dr Sarah Gilbert, said traditional influenza vaccines are designed to prompt an immune response to H and N proteins on the outer shell of the virus. |
| With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see it anymore Dr Sarah Gilbert | With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see it anymore Dr Sarah Gilbert |
| But these proteins are prone to mutation - and every year the vaccine has to be reformulated on the basis of the strains likely to be most prominent. | But these proteins are prone to mutation - and every year the vaccine has to be reformulated on the basis of the strains likely to be most prominent. |
| So instead, the researchers have developed a vaccine on the basis of proteins inside the cell, which are far more similar across different strains. | So instead, the researchers have developed a vaccine on the basis of proteins inside the cell, which are far more similar across different strains. |
| The vaccine uses a weakened smallpox virus to carry the proteins into the body - a technique that has already been used in malaria and TB vaccines. | The vaccine uses a weakened smallpox virus to carry the proteins into the body - a technique that has already been used in malaria and TB vaccines. |
| Once the virus has invaded the cell and starts to multiply, these inner proteins called matrix protein 1 and nucleo-protein, are revealed to the immune system. | Once the virus has invaded the cell and starts to multiply, these inner proteins called matrix protein 1 and nucleo-protein, are revealed to the immune system. |
| A specific type of immune cell, called a T cell, then learns to recognise and destroy cells containing the proteins the next time it encounters them. | A specific type of immune cell, called a T cell, then learns to recognise and destroy cells containing the proteins the next time it encounters them. |
| Tests | Tests |
| Initially 12 people will be vaccinated to test the dose before further studies are done to check its effectiveness in people exposed to flu. | Initially 12 people will be vaccinated to test the dose before further studies are done to check its effectiveness in people exposed to flu. |
HOW FLU VACCINE WORKS | HOW FLU VACCINE WORKS |
| New universal flu vaccine is injected into the arm and is taken up by healthy cells. | New universal flu vaccine is injected into the arm and is taken up by healthy cells. |
| Cells containing vaccine attract immune cells which multiply and move around the body. | Cells containing vaccine attract immune cells which multiply and move around the body. |
| Immune cells now trained to recognise proteins inside virus, which enters body via airways. | |
| Killer immune cells recognise flu-infected cells and destroy them along with flu virus. | Killer immune cells recognise flu-infected cells and destroy them along with flu virus. |
| BACKNEXT1 of 4 | BACKNEXT1 of 4 |
| Dr Gilbert said if they were successful it could drastically change the way flu vaccine is used. | Dr Gilbert said if they were successful it could drastically change the way flu vaccine is used. |
| "With having to make new vaccine every year there's never enough to go around. | "With having to make new vaccine every year there's never enough to go around. |
| "With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see it anymore." | "With this vaccine, we could end up having pretty much everyone vaccinated - a situation more like measles where you don't really see it anymore." |
| In the case of a pandemic, stockpiles of the vaccine could be made in advance instead of having to wait for an outbreak to then identify the particular strain of flu. | In the case of a pandemic, stockpiles of the vaccine could be made in advance instead of having to wait for an outbreak to then identify the particular strain of flu. |
| Potentially, once people had received the vaccine they would only need a booster once every five to10 years. | Potentially, once people had received the vaccine they would only need a booster once every five to10 years. |
| But she added the research team had five to 10 years of further tests ahead of them. | But she added the research team had five to 10 years of further tests ahead of them. |
| However, it is hoped a similar approach might eventually also be used to combat HIV, TB, malaria and even cancer. | |
| Professor John Oxford, a flu vaccine expert at Queen Mary, University of London said such a vaccine would be the "ultimate prize". | Professor John Oxford, a flu vaccine expert at Queen Mary, University of London said such a vaccine would be the "ultimate prize". |
| "But it's a fairly difficult prize to get - it may just be a question of luck. | "But it's a fairly difficult prize to get - it may just be a question of luck. |
| "There are people trying all kinds of strategies." | "There are people trying all kinds of strategies." |
| He added that having to manufacture different flu vaccines every year was a "huge burden" on pharmaceutical companies. | He added that having to manufacture different flu vaccines every year was a "huge burden" on pharmaceutical companies. |
| "This team have experience with this type of vaccine so they may well get there." | "This team have experience with this type of vaccine so they may well get there." |