A publication in the renowned scientific journal Nature describes a rapid pathway to generate antibodies that broadly neutralize influenza viruses. The study is the result of a collaboration between the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) which is affiliated to the Universit? della Svizzera italiana (USI), Humabs BioMed, both in Bellinzona, Switzerland and scientists at MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and at the San Raffaele University and Research Hospital in Milano, Italy. The study was supported by the European Research Council, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, the Human Frontiers Science Program and the Fondazione Cariplo.
Background
Antibodies are the primary defense mechanism against infections. The antibody genes are assembled from DNA segments present in our genome and are then improved through an iterative process of mutation and selection that takes place in the course of the immune response. High affinity antibodies typically contain up to 20-40 mutations, which are thought to be required for binding and killing of the pathogen.
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Background
Antibodies are the primary defense mechanism against infections. The antibody genes are assembled from DNA segments present in our genome and are then improved through an iterative process of mutation and selection that takes place in the course of the immune response. High affinity antibodies typically contain up to 20-40 mutations, which are thought to be required for binding and killing of the pathogen.
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