HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Study of flu patients reveals virus outsmarting key drug

In a pandemic caused by a new strain of flu virus, new vaccines would need to be developed to cope with changes the virus creates to escape immune detection in host animals. But vaccines take six months or longer to develop and produce in quantity. In the event of an influenza pandemic, when a virulent new form of the flu virus emerges and poses a global health threat, antiviral drugs are viewed as a stopgap, a way to buy time while new vaccines are developed and rushed into production.

The last flu pandemic was in 1968. The influenza pandemic of 1918 was a global tragedy, claiming 21 million lives - more than died in battle in World War I. One billion people - nearly half of the earth's population at the time - were infected.

The new study of Japanese children portrays what might happen in a pandemic as the immune system of a child, never before exposed to a flu virus, mirrors the adult human immune system exposed to the new, more virulent forms of flu virus at the root of pandemics.

"Most of the children we looked at are younger than 3 years old," Kawaoka explains. "They're encountering the flu virus for the first time. In this respect, our population of patients might be considered comparable to one experiencing pandemic influenza in the absence of pre-existing immunity."

The study of 50 Japanese children with influenza, says Kawaoka, suggests that oseltamivir-resistant viruses arise frequently in children treated with the drug.

"We don't know how virulent these viruses are, but they can be a source of another infection, possibly by resistant viruses," he says.

Oseltamivir is a well-known drug and is widely used in Japan. Its use in the United States is restricted, primarily because of cost.

Kawaoka emphasized that while the emergence of resistant flu virus was worrisome, the compound oseltamivir is still a valuable therapeutic drug.

"This is still a good compound," he says. "As with any antivi
'"/>

Contact: Yoshihiro Kawaoka
kawaokay@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
26-Aug-2004


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Study: Emission of smog ingredients from trees is increasing rapidly
2. Study explores gene transfer to modify underlying course of Alzheimers disease
3. Study reveals why eyes in some paintings seem to follow viewers
4. Study by Israeli scientists provides insight on DNA code
5. Study reveals first genetic step necessary for prostate cancer growth
6. Study in Science reveals recreational fishing takes big bite of ocean catch
7. Study suggests cell-cycle triggers might be cancer drug targets
8. Study narrows search for genes placing men at increased risk for prostate cancer
9. Study links high carbohydrate diet to increased breast cancer risk
10. Study explains spatial orientation differences between sexes
11. Study suggests humans can speed evolution

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Study flu patients reveals virus outsmarting key drug

(Date:5/24/2013)... have focused among other factors on drugs that ... the accumulation of A-beta that causes the known plaques in ... of A-beta is APP. Alessia Soldano and Bassem Hassan (VIB/KU ... the fruit-fly version of APP in the brain ... "We have discovered that APPL ensures that brain cells form ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 13,000 ships per year, carrying more than 284 million tons ... $1.8 billion dollars in toll fees for the Panama Canal ... million gallons of water are used from Gatun Lake, which ... people living in the isthmus. , However, the advent ... percent of the ships at sea, has demanded change. The ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... cancer patients unnecessarily undergo surgery or harsh treatments ... slow-growing and aggressive forms of the disease. Researchers ... Medical Institutes are developing technology that allows patients ... relatively mild treatments or take drastic measures. , ... an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Case ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):A new strategy required in the search for Alzheimer's drugs? 2Reforestation study shows trade-offs between water, carbon and timber 2Reforestation study shows trade-offs between water, carbon and timber 3Using big data to identify prostate cancers and best treatments 2Using big data to identify prostate cancers and best treatments 3
(Date:5/24/2013)... WI (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 ... the discovery and development of calcium-binding proteins to ... of safety assessment study of apoaequorin ... international journal published for the British Industrial Biological ... study was to investigate potential adverse effects, if ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Venaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:   ... on obtaining FDA clearance and commercializing its rapid, protein ... pricing of an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 shares ... 3,500,000 shares of its common stock at an exercise ... offering price of $1.25 per share and related warrant.  ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Graphite Metallizing ... self-lubricating bushings mounted in stainless steel pillow blocks. ... of GRAPHALLOY with the application and installation versatility ... Pillow Blocks work exceptionally well when submerged ... hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Ind. , May 23, 2013  Rahal Letterman ... in human cord blood stem cell banking and therapeutics, ... of the No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Indy car driven ... for the remainder of the IZOD IndyCar 2013 season. ... (RLL) will work to support awareness of umbilical cord ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Safety Assessment Study of Apoaequorin Published in Food and Chemical Toxicology 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 3Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 2Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 3StemCyte, Inc. Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing As Associate Sponsor Of No. 16 IndyCar Program For James Jakes Beginning With The 97th Indianapolis 500 2StemCyte, Inc. Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing As Associate Sponsor Of No. 16 IndyCar Program For James Jakes Beginning With The 97th Indianapolis 500 3
Cached News: