courtesy : wisc.org
A group of international scientists has discovered a new class of molecular compounds that seems to be effective against the influenza virus.
The research focused on an enzyme that is crucial to the ability of the virus to replicate, thereby also preventing its spread from person to person.
This promising research differs neatly from previous research on chemical compounds that tried to limit the virus' growth and replication.
These compounds have something other medications have not: they are not compounds to which the virus can adapt and become resistant to. Many of the first line compounds that were used for influenza are now becoming obsolete, such as amantadines and Tamiflu, since the new strains have adapted to them and cut their efficacy. Although these compounds are still used and were somewhat effective four years ago in combating the swine flu, their effectivness is rapidly declining.
The new compound targets the neuraminidase enzyme and it interrupts its function in facilitating the spread of the influenza virus.
The enzyme facilitates the virus' separation from an infected cell. The enzyme does this by digesting sialic acid, a sugar that is on the surface of an infected cell. By digesting the acid, the enzyme releases the virus, which is then free to infect another cell.
The newly discovered compound in essence gums up the enzyme and stops it from digesting the sialic acid, trapping the virus in the already infected cell.
The compound is also easily administered. It is water soluble, so it can start affecting cells from the throat, which is where the virus attacks first.
Source: Science, 2.21.13
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