Breaking the Cycle: Advancements in Universal Influenza Vaccine Design

The term Influenza refers to a group of infectious respiratory diseases caused by influenza viruses: nowadays it presents a significant global health challenge due to its dynamic nature and propensity for rapid evolution. Multiple subtypes of influenza A viruses circulate in various hosts, including humans, birds, and mammals. The efficacy of influenza vaccines is influenced by the antigenic match between the vaccine strains and circulating viruses. However, the influenza virus ability to undergo genetic reassortment and mutation complicates vaccine strain selection and formulation. Current vaccine development strategies primarily rely on surveillance data to identify prevalent strains and predict their antigenic characteristics for inclusion in seasonal vaccines. This study aims at exploring the existing cross-reactivity among the human related 6 HA and 2 NA influenza proteins, in order to identify the most similar forms from a functional point of view, to extract key features to be used in the design of a potentially universal vaccine.