Article: Protein helps immune system mount "instant strike" against deadly flu viruses.

2004 MAR 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at the University of Rochester have identified a protein in the immune system that appears to play a crucial role in protecting against deadly forms of influenza and may be particularly important in protecting against emerging flu viruses like the avian flu.

The researchers believe that a vaccine made with a live but weakened strain of flu virus - such as the inhaled flu vaccine introduced last year - may activate this part of the immune system and offer the best defense against avian flu.

In a paper being published in Immunity, the researchers reported that a protein called VLA-1 enables the immune ...

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