Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says ne...(current pandemic have experienced relati...)

Date:9/10/2009

current pandemic have experienced relatively mild symptoms. However, some people have had more severe lung infections, which can be worse than those caused by seasonal flu. Our new research shows how the virus does this - by attaching to receptors mostly found on cells deep in the lungs. This is something seasonal flu cannot do."

The researchers found that pandemic H1N1 influenza bound more weakly to the receptors in the lungs than to those in the upper respiratory tract. This is why most people infected with the virus have experienced mild symptoms. However, the researchers are concerned that the virus could mutate to bind more strongly to these receptors.

"If the flu virus mutates in the future, it may attach to the receptors deep inside the lungs more strongly, and this could mean that more people would experience serious symptoms. We think scientists should be on the lookout for these kinds of changes in the virus so we can try to find ways of minimising the impact of such changes," added Professor Feizi.

The researchers compared the way seasonal and pandemic H1N1 flu viruses infect cells by identifying which receptors each virus binds to. To do this, the researchers used a glass surface with 86 different receptors attached to it, called a carbohydrate microarray. When viruses were added to the glass surface, they stuck to their specific receptors and the corresponding areas on the plate 'lit up'. This meant the researchers could see which receptors the different viruses attached to.

Pandemic H1H1 influenza could bind strongly to receptors called α2-6, which are found in the nose, throat and upper airway, and it could also attach more weakly to α2-3 receptors, which are found on cells deeper inside the lungs. However, seasonal H1N1 influenza could only attach to α2-6.

"Receptor binding determines how well a virus spreads between cells and causes an infection," said Professor Feizi. "Our new study adds t
'/>"/>

Contact: Lucy Goodchild lucy.goodchild@imperial.ac.uk 44-207-594-6702 Imperial College London Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. K-State researcher, collaborators study virulence of pandemic H1N1 virus
2. 1 in 6 health workers wont report in flu pandemic -- study by Ben-Gurion U. researchers
3. Swine flu genes dissimilar to past pandemics
4. New World post-pandemic reforestation helped start Little Ice Age, say Stanford scientists
5. Global Viral Forecasting Initiative receives $11M to implement pandemic early warning system
6. Rethinking who should be considered essential during a pandemic flu outbreak
7. Survivors of 1918 flu pandemic protected with a lifetime immunity to virus
8. VaxInnate to discuss seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines during BIO 2008 this week
9. NASA technology helps predict and prevent future pandemic outbreaks
10. Mounting a multi-layered attack on fungal infections
11. Single host gene may hold key to treating both ebola and anthrax infections