![\"Researchers](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2019\/02\/crispr-could-make-you-immune-to-the-flu-300x158.jpg\")
<\/div>Flu Vaccine<\/h2>
Vaccines for bacterial and viral infections are extremely difficult to develop. But thanks to gene-editing, we could soon be able to make people immune to the flu or even HIV.<\/p>
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington developed a new technique to artificially create improved and longer-lasting antibodies by editing the DNA of so-called B cells — the immune system’s white blood cells responsible for creating antibodies.<\/p>
Donor B Cells<\/h2>
The technique could eventually allow healthcare professionals to pass a major hurdle: many conventional antibody treatments are only effective for a short period of time — antibodies tend to break down quickly, requiring additional injections later down the line. In contrast, scientists believe that these new antibodies could one day only need to be injected once.<\/p>
According to a preprint of the research<\/a> published in the journal bioRxiv <\/em>earlier this month, an initial trial involving 15 mice delivered promising results: 82 days of protection against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — a respiratory tract infection that can prove dangerous to both children and adults.<\/p> Editing the DNA of B cells is a rapidly growing trend, New Scientist <\/em>points out<\/a>. Multiple research teams are in a race to become the first to test the technique in human trials.<\/p> Scientists will have to prove the technique is safe first — and that will likely take a number of years. But if it ever does become a treatment for humans, “thousands of hospital visits, disabilities, and deaths could be prevented each year,” reads the preprint.<\/p> READ MORE: <\/strong>CRISPR could help us protect ourselves from viruses like flu and HIV<\/a> [New Scientist<\/em>] More on CRISPR: Tiny New CRISPR Protein Could Make Human Gene-Hacking Less Risky<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> The post CRISPR Could Make You Immune to the Flu<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> See more here: Flu Vaccine Vaccines for bacterial and viral infections\u00a0are extremely difficult to develop. Continue reading A Growing Trend<\/h2>
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CRISPR Could Make You Immune to the Flu<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"