Influenza

What if a fitness tracker sitting on your wrist could detect COVID-19 before you even developed symptoms? A study claims this is not only possible, but preliminary investigations found infections can be detected two days before symptoms appear.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are beginning a Phase 1 human trial to test a new universal flu vaccine. The trial will test the vaccine being delivered via nasal spray or by injection after animal studies demonstrated strong results.

A new study tracking the health of around two million people has found influenza vaccination is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The study builds on research finding links between viral infections and neurodegenerative disease.

A new direct-to-consumer test designed to detect a number of different respiratory viruses including COVID-19 and influenza has been authorized by the FDA. The test is the first of its kind to be approved that doesn't need a prescription from a doctor.

Researchers have produced a novel nanoparticle-enhanced intranasal influenza vaccine. The results of a preclinical study demonstrate the unique nasal spray inducing robust local and systemic immune responses for over six months in animal models.

Moderna has announced data from its Phase 1/2 human trial testing an mRNA vaccine targeting four strains of influenza. The vaccine was found to be safe and generated antibody responses, however, it may be no more effective than current flu vaccines.

Compelling new preclinical research led by scientists from Yale University has found intranasal vaccination may be more effective at generating immunity against a number of respiratory viruses compared to conventional injection-delivered vaccination.

Moderna has commenced human trials testing an mRNA influenza vaccine targeting four separate viral strains. Building on its successful mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the company is planning to develop a single vaccine against multiple respiratory viruses.

The influenza virus has proven a very tricky foe to fight. Now, researchers at EPFL have developed synthetic molecules that can kill the flu virus by mimicking human cells, and putting the squeeze on the virus when it attaches itself to the decoy.

A study is the first to report successful results of a Phase 1 trial testing a novel universal flu vaccine. The trial found the experimental vaccine to be both safe and effective at generating a long-term immune response in a small number of adults.

Viruses are a major health risk, but what if we could fight them using other viruses? Scientists in Berlin have created virus shells that mimic the target cells that the flu virus latches onto in the lungs, preventing them from causing infection.

A new study is shedding light on the idea that someone's year of birth can affect susceptibility to different subtypes of the flu, with researchers taking advantage of a rare flu season to uncover rapid shifts in infection trends associated with age.