Scientists have developed a vaccine that protects against multiple strains of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza, an advance that may lead to a universal flu vaccine. The H1N1 influenza virus caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009. When it was first detected, it was called swine flu because the virus was similar to those found in pigs, but the virus now circulates as a seasonal form of influenza.

Using a technique called Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen (COBRA), researchers created nine prototype synthetic compound vaccines constructed using genetic sequences from multiple influenza virus strains. The COBRA vaccines were designed to recognise H1N1 viruses isolated within the last 100 years, but many of the experimental vaccines produced immunity against influenza strains not included in the design.

The research is part of a broader effort to create a universal influenza vaccine, which would protect against all strains of the virus. The research was published in the Journal of Virology.