Multivalent mRNA vaccine candidate another step closer to universal flu vaccine

The approach by Arevalo et al. differs from previous attempts to craft a universal flu vaccine by including antigens specific to each subtype, rather than just a smaller set of antigens shared among subtypes. Following on the success of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the researchers prepared 20 different nanoparticle encapsulated mRNAs, each encoding a different hemagglutinin antigen-a highly immunogenic flu protein that helps the virus enter cells. Antibody levels remained mostly stable four months after vaccination in the mice.

Multivalent protein vaccines produced using more traditional methods elicited fewer antibodies and were less protective compared to the multivalent mRNA vaccine in the animals. In a related Perspective, Alyson Kelvin and Darryl Falzarano discuss the results, noting that "questions remain regarding the regulation and approval pathway of such a vaccine that targets viruses of pandemic potential but are not currently in human circulation."

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Claudia P. Arevalo, Marcus J. Bolton, Valerie Le Sage, Colleen Furey, Hiromi Muramatsu, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Norbert Pardi, Elizabeth M. Drapeau Kaela Parkhouse, Tyler Garretson, Jeffrey S. Morris, Louise H. Moncla, Ying K. Tam, Steven H. Y. Fan, Seema S. Lakdawala, Drew Weissman, Scott E. Hensley SCIENCE 24 Nov 2022 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm0271