References & Sources

Flu Vaccine Aims at Constant Target Full Text

A vaccine that spurs the body to make antibodies that recognize a small protein on the surface of the flu virus moderates the disease in mice.

References:

Neirynck, S. . . . and W. Fiers. 1999. A universal influenza A vaccine based on the extracellular domain of the M2 protein. Nature Medicine 5(October):1157.

Further Readings:

Black, R.A., et al. 1993. Antibody response to the M2 protein of influenza A virus expressed in insect cells. Journal of General Virology 74:143.

Kilbourne, E.D. 1999. What are the prospects for a universal influenza vaccine? Nature Medicine 5(October):1119.

Kilbourne, E.D., B.E. Johansson, and B. Grajowe. 1990. Independent and disparate evolution in nature of influenza A virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 87:786.

Seachrist, L. 1995. Using peptide to block the flu. Science News 148(Aug. 5):92.

Seppa. N. 1999. Drug to treat flu also protects against it. Science News 156(July 10):20.

Smaglik, P. 1997. Flu and HIV wield common viral harpoon. Science News 151(April 26):252.

Sternberg, S. 1997. A doughboy’s lungs yield 1918 flu virus. Science News151(March 22):172.

Strauss, E. 1997. Squirts for squirts: Flu spray guards kids. Science News 152(July 19):38.

Travis, J. 1995. Viral proteins lie down on the job. Science News 147(May 27):325.

Verhoeyen, M., et al. 1980. Antigenic drift between the haemagglutinin of the Hong Kong influenza strains A/Aichi/2/68 and A//Victoria/3/75. Nature 286:771.

Wu, C. 1997. Drug could provide alternative to flu shot. Science News 151(Feb. 1):69.

Zebedee, S.L., and R.A. Lamb. 1988. Influenza A virus M2 protein: Monoclonal antibody restriction of virus growth and detection of M2 in virions. Journal of Virology 62:2762.

Sources:

Walter Fiers
University of Ghent
Department of Molecular Biology
Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology
K.L. Ledgeanckstraat 35
9000 Ghent
Belgium

Frederick G. Hayden
University of Virginia
Department of Medicine
Box 473
Charlottesville, VA 22908

Edwin D. Kilbourne
New York Medical College
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Valhalla, NY 10595

Jeffery K. Taubenberger
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Department of Cellular Pathology
14th Street and Alaska Avenue
Washington, DC 20306-6000

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 15, October 9, 1999, p. 228. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.