Jakarta, INTI - Russian scientists have successfully developed a new vaccine strain for the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus, targeting the currently circulating variant.
Scientific Response to the Global H5N1 Threat
The Russian Science Foundation (RSF) announced on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, that scientists have successfully developed a new vaccine strain for the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus, specifically targeting the strains currently in circulation.
The vaccine was developed by researchers at St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine and the A.A. Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza.
The new vaccine strain is designed to match contemporary H5N1 variants while remaining safe for use in both animals and humans.
H5N1 is known for its high pathogenicity and has spread globally, causing mass fatalities among domestic and wild birds and resulting in significant economic losses.
Its rapid mutation capability and ability to cross species barriers make H5N1 a difficult threat to control.
Consequently, previous-generation vaccines are no longer fully effective against the H5N1 strains currently dominating the outbreak.
Reverse Genetics Technique and High Immunogenicity
To address these challenges, scientists employed a reverse genetics approach in engineering the virus.
The hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the H5N1 virus were isolated from black-headed gulls in 2023. These genes were then modified to reduce the virus’s pathogenicity before being combined with genes from a safe laboratory H1N1 strain.
This process produced a hybrid virus capable of efficiently replicating in chicken embryos, which serve as the primary production platform for flu vaccines.
In vaccination trials, chicks received two doses of the vaccine spaced 14 days apart.
Experimental results showed antibody levels against H5N1 were ten times higher than the minimum protective threshold.
These findings indicate that the new vaccine strain possesses high immunogenicity and offers promising protection against the current H5N1 threat.
Conclusion
The development of this new H5N1 vaccine strain represents a significant advancement in combating highly pathogenic bird flu. By leveraging reverse genetics and achieving high immunogenicity, the vaccine offers effective protection against currently circulating H5N1 variants. This breakthrough not only enhances global preparedness against avian influenza outbreaks but also provides a safer and more reliable option for both animal and human health.
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