Lab Develops DNA Vaccine That Could Lead to One-Dose Flu Vaccination

Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine have developed a DNA vaccine that could lead to a universal vaccine for the flu in one dose, Digital Trends reported.

Deborah Fuller, a professor in the university's Department of Microbiology, explained the DNA vaccine in a news release, saying, "The current flu vaccine is an inactivated virus. The whole virus is first grown in eggs, then it's inactivated and injected. DNA vaccines are different. Instead of producing the vaccines in eggs, we instead inject a genetic code for proteins from the virus into our own cells.

"Our cells then read the code and produce the viral proteins (also known as) antigens. When our immune system sees the antigens, it makes immune responses that can protect against influenza infection."

"Relatively speaking, DNA vaccination is the new kid on the block with regard to the types of vaccines," Fuller added.

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