The University of Cambridge in the UK recently issued a communiqué saying that the university's team used artificial intelligence to design a novel broad-spectrum avian influenza vaccine, which showed protective efficacy against various variants of the avian influenza virus in animal experiments. The vaccine candidate was jointly developed by Cambridge University and its derivatives. Researchers collected avian influenza virus gene sequence data recorded by global surveillance projects, integrated analysis using AI tools, and designed a series of “superantigens” containing common antigenic characteristics of such viruses. Antigens are components in vaccines that can trigger the body's immune response. After screening through cell tests, the team used the selected antigens for the vaccine and conducted animal experiments. Experiments showed that mice and ferrets vaccinated with the new vaccine all survived after being attacked by various variants of the avian influenza virus with different genetic characteristics, while only about half of the animals in the control group that received the current avian influenza vaccine survived. The tested virus variants have all caused human infections, and there is a potential pandemic risk. Research leader Jonathan Heaney, professor at Cambridge University, said the new vaccine aims to provide broad-spectrum protection against various variants of the avian influenza virus and meet the challenges posed by the evolution of the virus. Using AI tools can greatly speed up the vaccine design process. The communiqué said that the current bird flu vaccine mainly targets specific strains that have appeared, and needs to be continuously updated as the virus mutates. The researchers hope the new technology will help address emerging virus threats in advance. Next, the team plans to conduct human clinical trials of this bird flu vaccine. The relevant results have been published in the American “Cell Report · Medicine” magazine.

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