Immunologists at McMaster have discovered a previously unknown mechanism which acts like a spider web, trapping and killing pathogens such as influenza or SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
The vaccine, made of disease-fighting proteins, could boost efficacy, use smaller doses, accelerate production of seasonal flu vaccines.
A universal vaccine would take the guesswork out of planning annual vaccines, and would protect against all flu strains and the occurrence of flu pandemics, says infectious disease expert Matthew Miller.