A vaccine designed with artificial intelligence by researchers in Cambridge fully protected mice and ferrets against a range of bird flu variants in animal trials.
The broad-spectrum jab outperformed existing vaccines stockpiled by governments for potential human outbreaks. Those vaccines protected around half of the animals exposed to multiple variants, while the new vaccine achieved complete protection.
Developed by the University of Cambridgeās Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics and spin-out company DIOSynVax, the vaccine is designed to work against many versions of the virus at once. The team used genetic data from bird flu viruses collected through global surveillance programmes to create novel āsuper-antigensā using AI.
Researchers say this approach could reduce the need to continually update vaccines as viruses evolve. The next step is human clinical testing, although the vaccine has not yet been approved for use in people.
The work is part of a wider Cambridge programme developing vaccines against infectious diseases, including human and swine flu, coronavirus, Lassa fever, Marburg and Ebola. The team has also received Ā£4.28 million from UK Research and Innovation and Defra to support national biosecurity research.
Why it matters for Britain
The project strengthens vaccine research and biotechnology in Cambridge, while its UK funding supports work aimed at shortening responses to future disease outbreaks. A broader bird flu vaccine could also help protect public health and reduce the cost and disruption linked to repeatedly reformulating jabs.
