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Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US have uncovered the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of most viruses which plague mankind, and could soon develop a universal vaccine.
The so-called ‘Achilles heel’ (or vulnerable point) of most viruses is actually just a simple protein named AGO4
When studying mice, researchers found that only cells deficient in AGO4 were hypersensitive to infections like the influenza virus. So once they can figure out how to reinforce our bodies’ natural defences with AGO4, viruses will no longer stand a chance of infecting us, theoretically at least.
Source
Normally when scientists are developing viral vaccines, they are working with individual viruses and making vaccines for those specific viruses. Researchers have just found, however, that the "weak point" of most viruses is a single gene. This discovery could have dramatic implications for viral vaccines; if we can figure out how to create a vaccine that protects the body against this protein, then we will have effectively made a vaccine that protects us from the majority of viruses.
originally posted by: underpass61
So all we have to do is go to socialist Europe, get cured and fly home. Thanks for the tip!
originally posted by: trollz
The so-called ‘Achilles heel’ (or vulnerable point) of most viruses is actually just a simple protein named AGO4
When studying mice, researchers found that only cells deficient in AGO4 were hypersensitive to infections like the influenza virus. So once they can figure out how to reinforce our bodies’ natural defences with AGO4, viruses will no longer stand a chance of infecting us, theoretically at least.