Scientists develop universal one-shot bird flu vaccine

October 30, 2025 / 9:39 AM

Sharjah24-WAM: Researchers have created a proof-of-concept universal vaccine that could protect against all known and emerging H5 avian influenza variants, marking a major step forward in global pandemic readiness. The findings, published in Nature, highlight a single-dose vaccine targeting the virus's antigenic centre that provides broad, cross-strain immunity, even against variants that have not yet evolved.

Mapping the virus’s evolution

Led by Mathilde Rochard from Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, the research team developed a high-resolution 3D map illustrating how the H5 haemagglutinin (HA) protein has evolved over several decades. This detailed map captured the virus's evolutionary diversity, enabling scientists to identify a synthetic HA protein that lies at the centre of all known variants.

By exposing the immune system to this central antigen, the new vaccine stimulates a broad antibody response capable of neutralising multiple H5 strains.

Strong protection in animal trials

Tests conducted in ferrets, widely regarded as the most reliable animal model for influenza, demonstrated that the vaccine provided strong protection against various genetically distinct H5 viruses. It proved equally effective against strains not directly included in the formulation, matching the performance of existing strain-specific vaccines.

A step toward future readiness

The study’s authors stated that the vaccine could notably strengthen the world’s defences against avian influenza pandemics, especially as outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5 strains continue to spread globally among wild birds and mammals. However, they warned that human clinical trials are still required to establish the vaccine’s safety, optimal dosage, and long-term effectiveness.

If successful, the technology could serve as a blueprint for developing broad-spectrum vaccines against other rapidly evolving pathogens.