University at Buffalo Apr 17 2025 A vaccine under development at the University at Buffalo has demonstrated complete protection in mice against a deadly variant of the virus that causes bird flu. The work, detailed in a study published today (April 17) in the journal Cell Biomaterials , focuses on the H5N1 variant known as 2.3.4.4b, which has caused widespread outbreaks in wild birds and poultry, in addition to infecting dairy cattle, domesticated cats, sea lions and other mammals. In the study,