Together we prevent an avian influenza pandemic

Avian influenza is spreading worldwide. Increasingly, the virus is appearing not only in birds but also in mammals. In the United States, a variant has now jumped to cattle, and people have also become ill. How well are we prepared for an avian influenza pandemic? To answer that question and to be better prepared for new outbreaks, we at BPRC conduct research into influenza viruses and new vaccines. In doing so, we collaborate with Kling Biotherapeutics.

Because this work must be carried out under specific safety conditions, part of it takes place in their laboratory, and this collaboration was set up for that purpose. The results are then returned to BPRC, where we analyze them further.

Our virologist Gerrit Koopman explains how it all works. “Current flu vaccines are not sufficiently effective,” he says. “They are very specifically targeted at certain virus strains, which means you have to be lucky that exactly the strain the vaccine was made for is circulating.”

This problem occurs with seasonal flu, but becomes even more apparent with variants such as avian influenza. Although these viruses are different, they belong to the same influenza family, and that is precisely where the challenge lies.

Current flu vaccines mainly protect against virus variants that are circulating at that moment. “Ideally, you want a vaccine that protects against what is circulating now and what is coming, but also against rarer variants such as avian influenza. That is often not the case at the moment.”

Avian influenza

Avian influenza is an example of a flu variant for which routine vaccination is currently not carried out. “What many people do not know is that we can also become ill from this type of flu,” Gerrit explains.

“In the United States, a variant is circulating that has ended up in cattle. It spreads mainly through milk and has already made several farmers ill. Fortunately, they recovered well. For a number of cats, this was not the case. They died after drinking contaminated milk.”

Gerrit looks ahead thoughtfully. “It is definitely a potential threat.”

How well are we protected?

The fact that vaccination against avian influenza is not currently carried out does not mean there is no protection at all, Gerrit explains. “There are publications showing that people sometimes already have limited immunity against avian influenza, probably because the virus resembles other flu viruses.”

That protection is still weak, but it can help the body respond more quickly upon infection. Vaccines for emergency situations are also already available. “However, these are again very specifically targeted at a single variant. So it still depends on the variant that emerges whether they will work.”

Gerrit continues: “Avian influenza is a growing threat, and of course we want to prevent the next pandemic. That is why it is very important to develop a vaccine that provides broader protection. To investigate this, we use our biobank. It contains material from previous studies with monkeys that were exposed to influenza, through vaccination or infection.”

Research using material from the biobank

Gerrit explains that by using blood cells and lymph node cells from this biobank, no new animal experiments are required. At the same time, researchers can determine how much protection infection or vaccination with ‘regular’ influenza provides against avian influenza.

In addition, research has been conducted with avian influenza itself, which means tissue samples are available. “By comparing the immune response to regular influenza with that to avian influenza, we can see exactly where the differences lie and what is needed for better protection.”

Researchers look very specifically at immune cells known as B cells, which produce antibodies against the virus. With new techniques, they can see exactly which B cells respond, including those that also happen to respond to avian influenza.

Antibodies

By studying these cells, it becomes clear which antibodies our body produces and which part of the virus they target. That specific part of the virus can later be used in the development of new vaccines.

“Ultimately, we hope to be able to create a vaccine that can provide very broad protection against influenza viruses.” Gerrit is confident that this will eventually succeed. “We do need each other to achieve this. That is why we have entered into this collaboration with Kling Biotherapeutics.”

Collaboration with Kling Biotherapeutics

“The reason we collaborate with Kling Biotherapeutics is actually very simple,” Gerrit explains. “If we infect tissue with avian influenza, it involves risks. That means we are required to work in a level 3 laboratory. We do have a level 3 lab ourselves, but the equipment we need for this study is located in our level 2 lab.”

This part of the research therefore takes place in the laboratory of Kling Biotherapeutics. “They then send the antibodies they identified in the first part of the study back to us, so that we can further investigate them here in our lab. In this way, we work together to find a suitable and broadly applicable vaccine.”