“That's why killer T cells are like the ninjas of our immune response. They kill cells infected with the virus, but then they form immunological memory, so when the new virus emerges, even if it's a mutated viral variant, these features can still be recognized and allow killer T cells to fight the next infection.
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Influenza B is particularly dangerous among young people, killing and hospitalizing Australian children in 2023 after cases spiked mid-season.
Until 2024 in Australia, influenza A accounted for the majority of influenza notifications.
Between January 1 and April 7, 33,325 cases were reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, a number higher than in many previous years. This could be partly to do with increased testing.
31 flu deaths have been reported.
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David Tscharke, professor of virology and immunology at the Australian National University, described the new research as a first step in the development of a universal influenza B vaccine.
“They're not going to go back into the lab and make a vaccine that will come out next year or the year after that, but I guess this is proof of principle.”
Tscharke also said that killer T cells might just be part of the answer. He said that unlike the current generation of seasonal vaccines, which are good at boosting antibodies in the blood and can prevent the flu from taking hold, killer T cells don't provide the same immediate protection.
“What they're going to do … is help your body deal with that infection more effectively, so we're really talking about a vaccine that can protect against serious disease. It's not going to be a vaccine that stops infections.”
An annual flu shot is recommended for every Australian over six months of age, and free shots are available for children aged six months to five years, pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, Aboriginal people and Islanders Torres Strait and those with certain medical conditions.
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