One Genetic Mutation Seems to be Holding FluMist back

            FluMist is everyone’s favorite ineffective, nasally delivered annual flu vaccination. But that first part may be about to change. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered a genetic mutation in the attenuated vaccine virus that might be playing a major role in limiting the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Part of the M segment of the vaccine virus has mutation in its sequence that is not found in any other influenza virus. Researchers showed that this mutation reduces the ability of the attenuated virus to spread in primary human nasal epithelial cells, the main cells where the attenuated virus is supposed to amplify. Without the ability to start spreading in these cells, not enough virus is generated to allow the immune system to build up an immunity to the flu strain.

Understanding this mutation might allow vaccine manufactures to adjust the FluMist vaccine to become more effective, and ultimately, young children may once again be able to avoid the annual needle jab.

-Cole Holderman

Sources:

1.       Article in the Journal Vaccine: The M2 protein of live, attenuated influenza vaccine encodes a mutation that reduces replication in human nasal epithelial cells: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X17314147

2.       Science News Article: Genetic mutation could, if altered, boost flumist vaccine effectiveness, research suggests: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171128112151.htm