Avian research "Startling"

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   Pandemic influenza: lessons from the 1918 virus

XagenaMedicine2005

An article by Robert Belshe, of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 

in the New England Journal of Medicine, reviewed � spectacular 

achievements of contemporary molecular biology � that hold great 

importance as the world prepares for a possible flu pandemic.

These achievements, including a recent genetic sequencing and 

recreation of the virus from the 1918 flu pandemic, �may enable us to 

track viruses years before they develop the capacity to replicate with high 

efficiency in humans,� Belshe writes.

The new knowledge of the genetic sequences of influenza viruses that 

predate the 1918 epidemic will be �extremely helpful in determining the 

events that may lead to the adaptation of avian viruses to humans before 

the occurrence of pandemic influenza.�

And as the virus continues to adapt, scientists now know what to look for. 

Belshe said scientists should conduct worldwide surveillance to monitor 

this adaptation process.

Belshe reviewed recent articles in Science and Nature as part of his 

perspective article � The Origins of Pandemic Influenza � Lessons from the 

1918 Virus.�

The lead author of the research in Nature was Jeffery Taubenberger, of 

the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and the research in Science 

was led by Terrence Tumpey, of the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention ( CDC ).

� These recent research findings involving avian flu are startling, and they 

tell us that there are at least two mechanisms by which a pandemic 

influenza epidemic could emerge,� Belshe says. � This research provides 

critically important insight into the origin of pandemic influenza.�

Both mechanisms described in the articles were observed during 

worldwide pandemics of the 20th century. 

Scientists now conclude that the prospect of a new worldwide pandemic 

during the 21st century could involve either of two possibilities:

- A direct spread of an entirely avian virus from birds to humans.

This is what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu, the deadliest of last 

century�s three pandemics.

- A �reassortment� virus that mixes bird flu with already circulating 

human influenza strains to create a new strain. This was the case during 

the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic and the 1957 Asia flu pandemic.

Most of the flu strains of today are genetically related to the 1968 

outbreak, which as a reassortment virus is genetically related to both the 

1957 and 1918 viruses.

Belshe said the question of the moment involves which mechanism a 

future pandemic could involve. �Are we going to see an event like 1918, 

an avian virus adapting to man, or will it be an event like 1957 or 1968, 

where an avian virus contributes some genetic material by mixing in with 

a current strain of the human virus ? � Belshe says. � We don�t know what 

will happen or when it will happen, but we know it will happen.�

And although it can�t be said for sure whether the current avian flu virus 

can adapt readily to the point where human-to-human transmission is 

possible, the recent research findings do provide some clues as to what 

genetic changes are necessary for such an event to occur. In fact, several 

additional genetic changes must occur in the currently circulating bird flu 

viruses before these viruses will begin to spread efficiently from person to 

person and this can be monitored closely by scientists.

� Taubenberger estimated that based upon the rate of evolution, the 1918 

epidemic had circulated in man since 1900,� Belshe says. � So it took a 

while to become highly efficient as a pandemic virus.�

Source: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 2005

 http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/b9b37cdd198e 940b73969ea6ba7aaf72.htm">http://www.xagena.it/news/medicine news_net_news/b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72.html">http:// www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/b9b37cdd198e940b739 69ea6ba7aaf72.htm

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Avian research "Startling" Posted: February 14 2006 at 4:40am
	Pandemic influenza: lessons from the 1918 virus XagenaMedicine2005 An article by Robert Belshe, of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, in the New England Journal of Medicine, reviewed � spectacular achievements of contemporary molecular biology � that hold great importance as the world prepares for a possible flu pandemic. These achievements, including a recent genetic sequencing and recreation of the virus from the 1918 flu pandemic, �may enable us to track viruses years before they develop the capacity to replicate with high efficiency in humans,� Belshe writes. The new knowledge of the genetic sequences of influenza viruses that predate the 1918 epidemic will be �extremely helpful in determining the events that may lead to the adaptation of avian viruses to humans before the occurrence of pandemic influenza.� And as the virus continues to adapt, scientists now know what to look for. Belshe said scientists should conduct worldwide surveillance to monitor this adaptation process. Belshe reviewed recent articles in Science and Nature as part of his perspective article � The Origins of Pandemic Influenza � Lessons from the 1918 Virus.� The lead author of the research in Nature was Jeffery Taubenberger, of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and the research in Science was led by Terrence Tumpey, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). � These recent research findings involving avian flu are startling, and they tell us that there are at least two mechanisms by which a pandemic influenza epidemic could emerge,� Belshe says. � This research provides critically important insight into the origin of pandemic influenza.� Both mechanisms described in the articles were observed during worldwide pandemics of the 20th century. Scientists now conclude that the prospect of a new worldwide pandemic during the 21st century could involve either of two possibilities: - A direct spread of an entirely avian virus from birds to humans. This is what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu, the deadliest of last century�s three pandemics. - A �reassortment� virus that mixes bird flu with already circulating human influenza strains to create a new strain. This was the case during the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic and the 1957 Asia flu pandemic. Most of the flu strains of today are genetically related to the 1968 outbreak, which as a reassortment virus is genetically related to both the 1957 and 1918 viruses. Belshe said the question of the moment involves which mechanism a future pandemic could involve. �Are we going to see an event like 1918, an avian virus adapting to man, or will it be an event like 1957 or 1968, where an avian virus contributes some genetic material by mixing in with a current strain of the human virus ? � Belshe says. � We don�t know what will happen or when it will happen, but we know it will happen.� And although it can�t be said for sure whether the current avian flu virus can adapt readily to the point where human-to-human transmission is possible, the recent research findings do provide some clues as to what genetic changes are necessary for such an event to occur. In fact, several additional genetic changes must occur in the currently circulating bird flu viruses before these viruses will begin to spread efficiently from person to person and this can be monitored closely by scientists. � Taubenberger estimated that based upon the rate of evolution, the 1918 epidemic had circulated in man since 1900,� Belshe says. � So it took a while to become highly efficient as a pandemic virus.� Source: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 2005 http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/b9b37cdd198e 940b73969ea6ba7aaf72.htm">http://www.xagena.it/news/medicine news_net_news/b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72.html">http:// www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/b9b37cdd198e940b739 69ea6ba7aaf72.htm

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2006 at 4:45am
	In bird viruses, the gene produces a protein that allows the virus to bind to ``scaffolding'' proteins inside human cells. ``It's like a large number of policemen being held hostage. Society falls apart,'' says McGeer. In human viruses, the protein doesn't bind to certain cells, which may explain why they're not as virulent. It hasn't been proven yet. ``But, we think that if you interfere with that many proteins in cells, you're going to have a deleterious consequences,'' said author Dr. Clayton Naeve, of St. Jude. The finding fits with what doctors on the ground in Asia have seen: the H5N1 virus can attack not just the airways, like regular flu, but multiple organs and systems, including the kidney, liver, spleen and brain. Infection has been fatal in more than half the reported cases, and most cases are occurring in previously healthy children and young adults. The H5N1 avian flu sweeping across Asia has this ``bird'' form of the protein. The milder pandemics of 1957 and 1968 had the ``human'' one. The 1918 Spanish flu virus, which scientists now believe came from birds, had a very similar ``bird'' protein that the researchers believe behaves the same way. http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=af1 4b9be-c2c2-47bd-8507-d53bab43f3b9&k=33801 Edited by Rick

Corn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: December 13 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1219	Post Options Post Reply Quote Corn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2006 at 4:52am
	I love it when they say how they are watching or can watch. That's all we can do is WATCH.
	Speculation is the only tool we have with a threat that can circle the globe in 30 days. Test results&news is slow.Factor in human conditions,politics, money&bingo!The truth!Facts come after the fact.