Influenza

A step toward a universal flu vaccine

With computer models and lab experiments, researchers are working on a strategy for vaccines that could protect against any influenza virus.

October 7, 2020

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.

Covid-19 diagnostic based on MIT technology might be tested on patient samples soon

A variety of MIT research projects could aid efforts to detect and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

March 12, 2020

Most facilities for handwashing are located inside restrooms, which tend to be highly contaminated areas, the researchers say. Separate handwashing sinks outside of restrooms could help improve hand hygiene at airports, they suggest.

Study: To slow an epidemic, focus on handwashing

Improving the rate of handwashing at just 10 major airports could significantly slow the spread of a viral disease, researchers estimate.

February 6, 2020

At the conclusion of MIT's annual community-wide flu clinic on Oct. 3, MIT Medical administered sticker number 9,378 — a new record.

MIT Medical shatters previous one-day flu-shot record

During the community flu clinic on Oct. 3, at least 9,378 people on campus had received vaccinations — an average of one shot every 3.8 seconds.

October 16, 2019

Using a technique called solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, an MIT team found that two cholesterol molecules bind to a flu protein called M2 to sever viral buds from their host cell. The molecular configuration creates an exaggerated wedge shape inside the cell membrane that curves and narrows the neck of the budding virus until the neck breaks.

Cholesterol helps flu virus escape through host cell’s membrane

Study could shed light on how many other proteins bind with membrane cholesterol.

November 20, 2017

MIT Medical fell short of its goal of 10,000 flu shots in one day, but it still managed to smash the previous one-day record for flu shots given.

MIT Medical shatters one-day flu shot record

This year’s clinic lived up to its reputation as one of the most efficient operations at MIT.

November 1, 2017

Virion hikers with varying levels of fitness, illustrated here as preparedness, attempt to climb Folded Peak While some virions are too unfit to hit the trail (red), some are sufficiently fit to reach the summit without help from the park chaperones (blue). Other virions (yellow) are able to reach the summit by hijacking the park chaperones, which are also assisting certain host proteins, and so...

Biochemists discover mechanism that helps flu viruses evolve

Influenza viruses can hijack host cellular machinery to help mutated viral proteins fold and function.

September 26, 2017

A new paper from an MIT-led team demonstrates that Alaska can offer a significant foothold for Asian flu viruses, enabling them to enter North America.

Tracking the spread of bird flu

Asian flu strains can enter North America through Alaska, study finds.

March 17, 2017

MIT Medical averaged one shot every 4.4 seconds at the first flu clinic of 2016.

Nearly 5,000 shots given at first campus flu clinic of 2016

Second clinic to take place Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Stratton Student Center.

October 19, 2016

“This nanoformulation approach allows us to make vaccines against new diseases in only seven days, allowing the potential to deal with sudden outbreaks or make rapid modifications and improvements,” says Daniel Anderson, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineeri...

Engineers design programmable RNA vaccines

Tests in mice show the vaccines work against Ebola, influenza, and a common parasite.

July 4, 2016

“It’s important to understand how the process of fluid breakup happens,” says Lydia Bourouiba. “What is the physics telling us in terms of droplet size distribution, that we can use downstream to predict range of contamination?”

Sneezing produces complex fluid cascade, not a simple spray

High-speed imaging shows how fluid breaks apart in air, may help identify super-spreaders.

February 10, 2016

By scanning patient IDs, MIT Medical staff quickly entered flu shot information and kept the lines moving fast.

It’s not too late to protect yourself against flu

November 9, 2015

More than 5,000 shots given at first campus flu clinic of the semester

A second clinic will take place Friday, Oct. 16 in the Stratton Student Center.

October 13, 2015

Karima Nigmatulina, Richard Larson, Anna Teytelman and Stan Finkelstein.

Improving prevention of and responses to flu outbreaks

New research suggests ways to reduce the likelihood that individuals and groups will become infected with influenza.

June 10, 2015

Colorized transmission electron micrograph showing H1N1 influenza virus particles.

Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern

MIT study finds evidence that a new strain of H1N1 may carry dangerous mutations.

March 11, 2015

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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