Influenza evolution patterns change with time, complicating vaccine design

Skoltech scientists discovered new patterns in the evolution of the influenza virus. This may help predict mutations in the viral genome and ultimately help design better vaccines. The research results were published in a top scientific journal, PNAS. While vaccines against many diseases remain effective for a long time, a flu shot needs to be done every year. One reason for this is that the influenza virus mutates quickly. Many of the mutations are useful for the virus as they change the amino acid sequence in its surface proteins, making the antibodies we produce after the previous vaccination or disease obsolete. As a result, every year scientists have to predict the way the virus might change by the next year and then develop the corresponding vaccine, most often a mixture of viral surface proteins that boost immunity. Mutations accumulated by the virus are not completely random, making evolution partially predictable. Due to...