Pig immune system study could unlock better influenza vaccines

USA – The University of Missouri is breaking new ground in influenza research by identifying which immune cells in pigs are most reactive to the virus, a discovery that could pave the way for more effective vaccines and therapies for both animals and humans.

The study, led by John Driver, associate professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, highlights the genetic and cellular similarities between pigs and humans, making pigs a valuable model for influenza research. 

The findings, published in Communications Biology, could have far-reaching implications for global health and the pork industry.

“While pigs and humans are very similar at the cellular level, they are not identical,” Driver explained. 

“A better understanding of how the immune system of pigs responds to influenza infection and how that immune response may differ in humans opens up a new world of potential for improved therapies and vaccines for both species.”

Influenza poses a unique challenge because it mutates quickly, forcing health authorities to develop new vaccines each year. 

Although the immune system’s B cells and T cells carry millions of receptors capable of recognising viruses, only a small fraction are effective against influenza.

Driver’s team sought to determine which of these receptors in pigs were most likely to respond to the flu virus.

To do so, the researchers customised a powerful technique called single-cell RNA sequencing for pigs. This method allowed them to examine immune cells at a highly detailed level, pinpointing the ones most capable of recognising influenza.

“By better identifying which B and T cells are more likely to recognise an influenza infection, that knowledge may help those who are trying to develop improved therapies or vaccines,” said Driver, who is also a principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Centre.

“If we can one day find which cell receptors bind to parts of the influenza virus that don’t change, that may be the key to improved vaccines that give us immunity for much longer.”

Pandemic prevention potential

Influenza is consistently ranked among the most likely viruses to spark a pandemic. Recent outbreaks of avian influenza have devastated poultry industries and driven up egg prices, while concerns linger about the potential for the virus to jump from birds to pigs and eventually to humans.

“If we can find an effective flu vaccine or therapy for pigs, that would be huge for the swine industry and reduce the potential for a future pandemic,” Driver said.

“In 2009, the H1N1 virus that caused the swine flu pandemic was a combination of viruses from pigs, birds and humans that mixed together to produce a new virus that our bodies were totally unprepared for.”

Collaborative science at Missouri

Driver emphasized that the University of Missouri provides a unique environment for this type of research.

The National Swine Resource and Research Center, the new NextGen Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Genomics Technology Core are all based on the same campus, creating fertile ground for interdisciplinary discovery.

“The interdisciplinary collaboration at Mizzou allows us to tackle one of society’s biggest infectious disease challenges,” Driver said.

“I get to work with fantastic investigators who are doing cutting-edge research. The discoveries we make today can lead to major improvements in both animal and human health down the road.”

With swine and human health closely linked in the fight against influenza, the Missouri team’s work may be a critical step toward a vaccine that offers longer-lasting protection and safeguards against future pandemics.

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