Vaccine developed in Nebraska could signal end to annual flu shot

Effort could reduce the impact and spread of swine flu, bird flu and flu in humans
  • Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, consults with Zahidul Islam, who recently joined the Weaver laboratory as a graduate student. Weaver led a study whose newly published findings reveal a breakthrough on flu vaccines for swine, birds and humans. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
    Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, consults with Zahidul Islam, who recently joined the Weaver laboratory as a graduate student. Weaver led a study whose newly published findings reveal a breakthrough on flu vaccines for swine, birds and humans. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

    LINCOLN — A new vaccine strategy developed and tested by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could signal an end to the annual flu shot routine.

    The possible breakthrough is laid out in newly published research in Nature Communications. The study, “Epitope-Optimized Vaccine Elicits Cross-Species Immunity Against Influenza A Virus,” describes a vaccine that protects against H1N1 swine flu…