New influenza vaccines are released every year to keep up with the rapidly changing influenza viruses. A study published recently in Science reported that llama antibodies can possibly neutralise multiple strains of influenza viruses, thus reducing the need to continuously develop tailormade vaccines that match the circulating virus of each flu season. Llama antibodies, unlike human antibodies, are smaller as they are composed of heavy chains only and are devoid of light chains. The researchers explained that such smaller Y-shaped antibodies are capable of reaching into otherwise inaccessible crevices (with epitopes) commonly found on many influenza viruses.
The study also tested on mice a new approach of delivering these engineered antibodies -- via nasal spray. A bio-engineered gene that codes for a protein derived from llama antibodies was inserted into an adeno-associated virus and sprayed into the noses of mice.
You can read more about this here too.
Suggestion: Get your students to think about the consequences if such nasal spray is introduced to human.
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