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January 10, 2025 – Gothenburg, Sweden: Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, in collaboration with colleagues from China, have identified a groundbreaking antibody-like molecule that provides protection against a wide range of influenza viruses. This discovery could pave the way for innovative treatments and the development of universal influenza vaccines. The findings were published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.
The molecule, named E10, belongs to a class of antibody-like proteins known as nanobodies. According to Davide Angeletti, Associate Professor of Immunology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and senior author of the study, E10 binds to a conserved part of the virus’s surface protein, preventing infection.
“We have identified a small molecule that binds to the virus’s surface protein and prevents infection. E10 has demonstrated protection in mice against various influenza strains, including those causing seasonal epidemics,” said Angeletti.
A Universal Approach to Influenza
The molecule targets a conserved region of hemagglutinin, a surface protein shared across diverse influenza strains, including avian influenza H7N9 and common human influenza subtypes such as H1N1 and H3N2. Remarkably, mice treated with E10 were safeguarded against infection. Furthermore, vaccines designed to mimic this binding site also provided robust protection.
“It’s rare to find a molecule capable of protecting against so many different influenza viruses. Even more promising, viruses attempting to mutate to evade the molecule lose their ability to grow effectively,” Angeletti added, highlighting the molecule’s potential to reduce viral adaptability.
Collaboration Across Borders
The study exemplifies international scientific collaboration. Zhao-Shan Chen, a Ph.D. student and the study’s first author, initially isolated the E10 molecule from an alpaca in Professor Qiyun Zhu’s laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Chen later continued her work in Angeletti’s lab at the University of Gothenburg, where the molecule’s protective properties were confirmed.
Next Steps
Despite the promising results, E10 is still in the experimental stage. Further testing in additional animal models and human clinical trials will be required before the molecule can be used in treatments or vaccines.
Influenza continues to pose a significant global health threat, causing annual epidemics and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. If successfully developed, this discovery could revolutionize influenza prevention, offering protection against a wide range of viral strains and reducing the impact of seasonal outbreaks.
For more information, the study can be accessed in Nature Communications: Zhao-Shan Chen et al. “Influenza A Virus H7 nanobody recognizes a conserved immunodominant epitope on hemagglutinin head and confers heterosubtypic protection.” DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55193-y.
