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Survivors of 1918 flu pandemic immune for life

18/08/2008

New research has discovered that survivors of the 1918 influenza virus were immune to the disease for the remainder of their lives.

Scientists from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine managed to extract antibodies from the survivors and found they still protected mice from the virus today.

"Ninety years after survivors encountered the 1918 pandemic influenza virus, we collected antibody-producing B cells from them, and successfully isolated B cells that produce antibodies that block the viral infection," contributing author Dr Christopher Basler said.

"The antibodies produced by these cells demonstrated remarkable power to block 1918 flu virus infection in mice, proving that, even nine decades after infection with this virus, survivors retain protection from it."

Scientists took blood samples from 32 individuals who were born before 1918 and lived through the influenza pandemic.

Researchers at the Vanderbilt University then produced antibodies from the individuals' blood cells which were then introduced to the mice.

"Our findings show that survivors of the pandemic have highly effective, virus neutralising antibodies to this powerful virus, and humans can sustain circulating B memory cells to viruses for up to nine decades after exposure," said Dr Tshidi Tsibane from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

"These findings could serve as potential therapy for another 1918-like virus."