Influenza Testing and Treatment Rocket Forward
While it's true the 2009 H1N1 pandemic has mentally induced fear more than it has physically produced illness, scientists are still working on novel concepts to end influenza as we know it. It's imperative that we evolve our techniques before the viruses have a chance to evolve. A non-profit group called the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and an Alabama research team are doing just that.
TGen has been pioneering new testing methods to be used on the virus. Their test not only detects the H1N1 virus but informs the doctors of the type of strain and whether it is resistant to oseltamivir, the most prevalent anti-viral drug in the market for treating H1N1. Interestingly enough, this test will be the only one available that uses a standard molecular technique that rapidly makes exact copies of specific components of H1N1's genetic material. This new assay improves on existing resistance testing, which requires labs with cumbersome and time-draining technologies, by putting the power into the hands of the doctor to determine if their drugs will work or not. TGen is expected to elucidate more on the details of their design at the 47th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
What has many individuals sweating with fear is that influenza is becoming increasingly resistant to the anti-viral drugs that exist. The World Health Organization has seen more than 3 dozen instances of resistance to tamiflu. An Alabama team of researchers appear to have launched a counter-offensive against influenza. They have found what they call an "Achilles' heel" for all strains of the influenza virus, antioxidants as they claim. Antioxidants, found in plant-based foods, seem to minimize the damage the virus does to the human lungs. The virus attacks the lungs through its M2 protein, which targets the epithelial cells by hindering their ability to remove liquid from inside our lungs. This can culminate into pneumonia and other respiratory complications. The team reached this supposition by testing the affect of the M2 protein on lung proteins in frog eggs. They deduced the segment of the M2 protein that caused the damage to the lung protein, and subsequently discovered it could be inhibited with antioxidants. This experiment was replicated with cells from human lungs with the same results. Opening the door to a whole host of new treatments for people suffering from the flu, this new treatment is not ready to replace vaccines, but it is step in that direction.
These articles impressed me because I like seeing progress in the realm of curing the incurable. I view viruses as basically nanomachines that should be working for us and not against us. Any step towards making this dream a reality is noteworthy in my opinion
Resources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169349.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169338.php
Jason Dwight
Section 502
TGen has been pioneering new testing methods to be used on the virus. Their test not only detects the H1N1 virus but informs the doctors of the type of strain and whether it is resistant to oseltamivir, the most prevalent anti-viral drug in the market for treating H1N1. Interestingly enough, this test will be the only one available that uses a standard molecular technique that rapidly makes exact copies of specific components of H1N1's genetic material. This new assay improves on existing resistance testing, which requires labs with cumbersome and time-draining technologies, by putting the power into the hands of the doctor to determine if their drugs will work or not. TGen is expected to elucidate more on the details of their design at the 47th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
What has many individuals sweating with fear is that influenza is becoming increasingly resistant to the anti-viral drugs that exist. The World Health Organization has seen more than 3 dozen instances of resistance to tamiflu. An Alabama team of researchers appear to have launched a counter-offensive against influenza. They have found what they call an "Achilles' heel" for all strains of the influenza virus, antioxidants as they claim. Antioxidants, found in plant-based foods, seem to minimize the damage the virus does to the human lungs. The virus attacks the lungs through its M2 protein, which targets the epithelial cells by hindering their ability to remove liquid from inside our lungs. This can culminate into pneumonia and other respiratory complications. The team reached this supposition by testing the affect of the M2 protein on lung proteins in frog eggs. They deduced the segment of the M2 protein that caused the damage to the lung protein, and subsequently discovered it could be inhibited with antioxidants. This experiment was replicated with cells from human lungs with the same results. Opening the door to a whole host of new treatments for people suffering from the flu, this new treatment is not ready to replace vaccines, but it is step in that direction.
These articles impressed me because I like seeing progress in the realm of curing the incurable. I view viruses as basically nanomachines that should be working for us and not against us. Any step towards making this dream a reality is noteworthy in my opinion
Resources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169349.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169338.php
Jason Dwight
Section 502
posted by Jason Dwight at 10:38 AM
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