Clarify how Elgorria attacks

2008/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia
• Medikuntza

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota (USA) have shown that measles virus can directly infect immune system cells.

Until now, scientists considered that the virus first attacked cells covering the airways, in which, after its proliferation, it infected lymphocytes, cells of the immune system. Another explanation was that the virus attacked by cells of the lymphatic system.

In order to clarify the infection of the body by the measles virus, the researchers of the Mayo Clinic have created viruses that do not have the ability to adhere to the cells of the respiratory tract. They then handed them over to the laboratory monkeys through the nose and saw them getting sick. Thus, they have shown that the virus does not need to infect the cells of the airways.

Research can help improve cancer treatments. In fact, some treatments use modified measles viruses, and researchers can now try new ways.