Shades of 1918? New study compares avian flu with

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   Here is the first part of the article-  this is well worth a read.
Very good-
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In a new study, Carole Baskin, formerly assistant research professor at Arizona's Biodesign Institute, currently with Science Foundation Arizona, and an interdisciplinary team of collaborators, compared the recent avian strain known in the scientific community as H5N1, with genetic ressortants of the 1918 virus—source of the most severe influenza pandemic in recorded history. The results, which appear in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, are sobering. H5N1 was found to replicate profusely within the first 24 hours, causing severe damage to respiratory tissues while sending the host's innate immune response into a lethal overdrive, reminiscent of the trajectory of the original 1918 virus. 
The threat of an avian flu pandemic hasn't gone away and emergency preparedness efforts may be inadequate to deal with the scope of such a pandemic, were one to occur. "In order to come up with vaccines and therapies, you have to understand the disease," Baskin stresses. "That's why I think this type of pathogenesis study is so important." 
Although H5N1 is not readily communicable between humans, it has nevertheless killed over 400 people to date as a result of human-avian interactions, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand, China, Egypt and Indonesia, according to the World Health Organization. The mortality rate for those stricken with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is 63 percent. Should a series of modifications allow the virus to pass from person to person, the consequences for humankind could be catastrophic. 
In the new study, Baskin and colleagues examine the host-pathogen responses to a common influenza virus and two ressortant strains of the 1918 H1N1 virus, each containing HA and NA—key surface antigens closely linked to the 1918 strain's potent virulence. The effects of these strains on host tissues and gene expression was compared with those of a 2004 Vietnam isolate of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. In a non-human primate model of the disease, the avian virus was found to significantly outpace not only run-of-the-mill influenza but even the highly virulent 1918 ressortants, in terms of its relentless pathogenicity

http://www.physorg.com/news153482126.html

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dennis2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Original Join Date: Long Term Member Joined: July 31 2007 Status: Offline Points: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote dennis2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Shades of 1918? New study compares avian flu with Posted: February 10 2009 at 7:31am
	Here is the first part of the article- this is well worth a read. Very good- \ In a new study, Carole Baskin, formerly assistant research professor at Arizona's Biodesign Institute, currently with Science Foundation Arizona, and an interdisciplinary team of collaborators, compared the recent avian strain known in the scientific community as H5N1, with genetic ressortants of the 1918 virus—source of the most severe influenza pandemic in recorded history. The results, which appear in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, are sobering. H5N1 was found to replicate profusely within the first 24 hours, causing severe damage to respiratory tissues while sending the host's innate immune response into a lethal overdrive, reminiscent of the trajectory of the original 1918 virus. The threat of an avian flu pandemic hasn't gone away and emergency preparedness efforts may be inadequate to deal with the scope of such a pandemic, were one to occur. "In order to come up with vaccines and therapies, you have to understand the disease," Baskin stresses. "That's why I think this type of pathogenesis study is so important." Although H5N1 is not readily communicable between humans, it has nevertheless killed over 400 people to date as a result of human-avian interactions, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand, China, Egypt and Indonesia, according to the World Health Organization. The mortality rate for those stricken with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is 63 percent. Should a series of modifications allow the virus to pass from person to person, the consequences for humankind could be catastrophic. In the new study, Baskin and colleagues examine the host-pathogen responses to a common influenza virus and two ressortant strains of the 1918 H1N1 virus, each containing HA and NA—key surface antigens closely linked to the 1918 strain's potent virulence. The effects of these strains on host tissues and gene expression was compared with those of a 2004 Vietnam isolate of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. In a non-human primate model of the disease, the avian virus was found to significantly outpace not only run-of-the-mill influenza but even the highly virulent 1918 ressortants, in terms of its relentless pathogenicity http://www.physorg.com/news153482126.html
	after all is said and done- more is said than done

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 10 2009 at 8:44am
	. The primate was injected with an *avian* influenza strain, rather than a *human* influenza strain. This is a laboratory simulation that is unlikely to occur here in the US in the future. It makes good copy and it is interesting. But the Influenza strains will swirl about and change vastly from expirements in University Labs. It was carried out by....formerly...an assistant research professor at Arizona's Biodesign Institute. Funding anyone?