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Source: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/200...rapeutic-target-suggested/UPI-99871251737690/
New bird flu therapeutic target suggested
Published: Aug. 31, 2009
HAMBURG, Germany, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- German researchers say they determined viral polymerase might provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza.
The scientists said highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a strain of the influenza virus that has adapted to infect birds. Although bird-specific flu strains rarely cross species, further adaption can lead to lethal infection in humans, the researchers said.
To determine which genetic changes may lead to host adaptation, Gulsah Gabriel of the Heinrich-Pette-Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology at the University of Hamburg and Hans-Dieter Klenk at the University of Marburg's Institute of Virology studied two strains of avian influenza, an unadapted avian strain and an avian strain adapted to infect mice by mutations that increase the efficiency of the viral polymerase -- an enzyme that catalyzes formation of new DNA from an existing strand of DNA.
They found that while the avian strain only infected the lungs, the mouse-adapted strain caused suppression of the immune system, which resulted in infection in multiple organs. In addition, while the avian strain caused only mild symptoms in mice, the mouse-adapted strain led to severe illness including pneumonia and infection of the brain, followed by death.
The scientists concluded viral polymerase may therefore provide an important target in preventing systemic flu in humans.
The study is reported in the September issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
New bird flu therapeutic target suggested
Published: Aug. 31, 2009
HAMBURG, Germany, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- German researchers say they determined viral polymerase might provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza.
The scientists said highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a strain of the influenza virus that has adapted to infect birds. Although bird-specific flu strains rarely cross species, further adaption can lead to lethal infection in humans, the researchers said.
To determine which genetic changes may lead to host adaptation, Gulsah Gabriel of the Heinrich-Pette-Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology at the University of Hamburg and Hans-Dieter Klenk at the University of Marburg's Institute of Virology studied two strains of avian influenza, an unadapted avian strain and an avian strain adapted to infect mice by mutations that increase the efficiency of the viral polymerase -- an enzyme that catalyzes formation of new DNA from an existing strand of DNA.
They found that while the avian strain only infected the lungs, the mouse-adapted strain caused suppression of the immune system, which resulted in infection in multiple organs. In addition, while the avian strain caused only mild symptoms in mice, the mouse-adapted strain led to severe illness including pneumonia and infection of the brain, followed by death.
The scientists concluded viral polymerase may therefore provide an important target in preventing systemic flu in humans.
The study is reported in the September issue of the American Journal of Pathology.