Flu News Friday: The Latest in Influenza Vaccines
March 19, 2021
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1. Evolutionary surprise, artificial intelligence, and H5N8
Colin Carlson, The Viral Emergence Research Initiative / March 17, 2021
Dr. Carlson explores the power of machine learning and zoonotic risk technology to understand ecological surprise, where “human expectations or predictions of natural system behavior deviate from observed ecosystem behavior,” in H5N8 influenza. The goal of zoonotic risk technology is to equip global surveillance and monitoring teams and other computational researchers to help prevent the next pandemic.
2. Strategies Targeting Hemagglutinin as a Universal Influenza Vaccine
Bullard et al., Vaccines / March 13, 2021
The substantial diversity of influenza viruses due to antigenic shift and drift pose challenges in the development of universal influenza vaccines. This article examines UIV strategies to target and improve cross-reactive immunity against hemagglutinin (HA), the most abundant protein on the virus’s surface. Authors review stalk-directed, consensus-based and computational algorithm-based strategies, all of which utilize a variety of vaccine platforms, including viral vectors and virus-like particles (VLPs).
3. WHO advisors propose two new vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy / March 10, 2021
A World Health Organization (WHO) advisory committee on flu vaccine strain selection recommends two more candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness, one targeting H5N8 and the other variant H1 (H1v).
4. U.S. FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Respiratory Infection Testing, SARS-CoV-2
John Parkinson, Contagion Live / March 5, 2021
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a new expanded version of its NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP), which now includes the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The test detects 19 viral pathogens, including SARS‑CoV‑2 and influenza, and 2 bacterial pathogens. The test is expected to detect new variants of SARS-CoV-2.
5. Coinfection with influenza A virus enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity
Bai et al., Cell Research / February 18, 2021
There are growing concerns regarding the potential impacts of the upcoming flu season on the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings from this study suggest that Influenza A virus pre-infection significantly enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by increasing viral entry into cells and raising the viral load.
5. Implications of climatic and demographic change for seasonal influenza dynamics and evolution
Baker et al., medRxiv / February 12, 2021
This study examines the impact of demographic mobility and climate change on influenza virus dynamics and potential evolution. More persistent outbreaks of influenza are predicted to be one of the effects. In a broader sense, these findings underscore the significant implications of climate change on global public health.
6. Canonical features of human antibodies recognizing the influenza hemagglutinin trimer interface
Zost et al., bioRxiv / January 3, 2021
Zost et al identify commonly shared genetic and structural features for recognition of influenza A’s hemagglutinin (HA) head domain trimer interface (TI) from a class of human antibodies easily elicited in diverse individuals. The study suggests this region is an attractive potential target for the development of epitope-based universal influenza A vaccines inducing broadly protective antibodies.
Funding Opportunities & Information
Early-Stage Development of Data Science Technologies for Infectious and Immune-mediated Diseases
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health / Opens June 2, 2021 / Expiration July 07, 2023
Enhancement or Sustainment of Data Science Tools for Infectious and Immune-Mediated diseases
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health / Opens June 2, 2021 / Expiration July 07, 2023
Omnibus Contract Opportunity for Medical Countermeasures
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health / March 17, 2021
Emily Graul, Sabin Vaccine Institute
Visit Influenzer.org to learn more about our journey to accelerate the development of a universal influenza vaccine. @TheInfluenzers
