Examining Influenza

Wolffman writes "University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have solved a long-standing puzzle about how the influenza virus assembles its genetic contents into infectious particles that enable the virus to spread from cell to cell, scientists have opened a new gateway to a better understanding of one of the world's most virulent diseases."

Comments

Kawaoka

[GrimSean]

Yoshi Kawaoka who is the principle person behind this research, also works with Ebola. I would be interested to know if the Ebola virus uses a similar method of infecting host cells, as I believe both it and the Influenza A virus have a similar incubation period.

The article states that a single RNA strand is responsible for recruiting the other seven, which then work together to produce more virons. I'm curious as to whether it is that RNA strand which has to mutate in order for the virus to jump from species to species (such as from birds to humans). Perhaps this could lead to a new innoculation for birds that would prevent their viral infections from jumping ship to us.

Re:my question to anyone who can answer it...

[PeterM from Berkeley]

Well, smallpox was eradicated by immunizing everyone. There have not been any natural cases of smallpox for a long time, and there will be none unless some madman commits a crime against all of humanity by re-releasing that virus.

However, influenza, for example, infects other animals than humans. So does the bubonic plague. Complete eradication of these disease would therefore be very difficult.

Polio can be eradicated, though, and so could some others, because no other hosts than humans exist. We are well on the way to eradicating polio.

Re:One thing that always worries me

[Simon Field]

Of course, antibiotics aren't useful against viruses, but presumably any antiviral agent that does not kill the virus effectively will give the virus a better chance at developing resistance.

I am somewhat skeptical (ok, paranoid) about the motives of drug companies. It looks to me like it is in their best interest to develop drugs that turn a fatal disease into a chronic one that needs expensive drugs for life. If they develop drugs that actually cure the disease, they make less money. Where is the most money being spent and made -- on anti-virals, or on vaccines?

How many companies that sell cold remedies are working on vaccines for the common cold?