07 May 2024
100 years of influenza research reveal key insights to combat the virus
Despite the overshadowing presence of COVID-19, influenza viruses continue to pose a formidable threat to global health. Every year, influenza viruses cause millions of hospitalisations and a significant burden of respiratory deaths. The return to pre-pandemic infection rates with the ever-changing, highly mutable viruses highlights the need to understand the nuanced dynamics of influenza immunity to better protect ourselves.
In a recent publication in esteemed journal Nature Reviews Immunology, a team of researchers led by University of Melbourne’s Professor Katherine Kedzierska, Head of the Human T Cell Laboratory at the Doherty Institute, shed light on the delicate interplay between our immune responses and influenza viruses.
This comprehensive review explores how our immune systems, both the innate and adaptive components, fight against influenza viruses. The authors uncovered findings accumulated over decades of research by examining historical studies dating back to the 1930s, including controlled human infection models, as well as drawing comparisons between influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
University of Melbourne’s Dr Oanh Nguyen, first author of the paper and Senior Research Fellow at the Doherty Institute, emphasised the importance of achieving a delicate balance in our immune response.
“One key finding is that our immune system must navigate a fine line to fight off the virus without causing harmful inflammation and damage to our tissues. Understanding this balance is crucial for preventing severe illness and fatalities from influenza,” said Dr Nguyen.
Recent studies have also identified certain groups at higher risk of severe influenza diseases, such as Indigenous peoples, older adults, young children, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.
“Understanding what exactly makes these groups more vulnerable is crucial to develop better tailored vaccines and treatments to protect those most at risk,” said Dr Nguyen.
Professor Kedzierska highlighted the ongoing and potential impact of the influenza virus around the word.
“With its capacity to mutate across different species, the virus could potentially cause devastating pandemics in the future,” said Professor Kedzierska.
“Looking ahead, we need to develop targeted interventions to better equip ourselves to prevent and manage outbreaks. This includes developing vaccines that stimulate a broader immune response, not just antibodies, and identifying biomarkers to predict who is most likely to develop life-threatening illness.”
The review offers a roadmap for future research and strategies to tackle influenza viruses.
“From harnessing mRNA-based vaccines to identifying the determinants of viral recovery, further studies are needed to rationally design preventative and prophylactic treatment strategies for influenza which can be applicable to other respiratory viruses,” said Professor Kedzierska.