Tricks of the flu virus

2004/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia

The researchers have not achieved effective treatment to cure the flu. For many, the flu is not a very serious disease; a week later it is cured without medicines. But for older people and for some population groups, the flu is deadly. Every year 40 thousand people die from the flu.

One of the medications used against the flu is generic symmetrel. To destroy the virus it binds to a proton transport channel that blocks the channel and the virus cannot function or reproduce. Often, the medication does not prevent the virus.

Now researchers have seen how the virus is facing the drug. The virus has the ability to tighten or expand this channel, so the drug fails to block it.