Research suggests many people already have T cells with the power to fight avian flu

The H5N1 "bird flu" virus emerged in 2022 and has spread widely in animal populations, including poultry and cattle. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been nine confirmed H5N1 infections in U.S. poultry and dairy workers who caught the virus through animal contact. There are no known cases of human-to-human transmission, so far.

LJI scientists and vaccine experts are keeping a close eye on the emerging virus. In their new study, LJI Professor Alessandro Sette, Dr.Biol.Sci., and LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, Ph.D., compared genetic sequences from H5N1 to genetic sequences from seasonal influenza viruses that already circulate in humans.

The LJI team uncovered important similarities between H5N1 and these common viruses, which allowed them to predict that many people already have "cross-reactive" T cells that are ready to target H5N1—should it ever mutate to cause widespread disease in humans.

"This makes us believe that a certain number of cross-reactive T cell responses may already be in place and may help decrease disease severity," says Sette, who also serves as Co-Director of the LJI Center for Vaccine Innovation.

The researchers shared their findings in a preprint manuscript published on the server bioRxiv.