Killer flu genes found
Tuesday December 30th, 2008
Scientists say they may have found the genes responsible for the deadly nature of the last century's worst flu epidemic.
The genes involved gave the 1918 flu virus the ability to reproduce in the lungs, leading to victims dying from pneumonia.
The discovery is part of a major global research project to unlock the secrets of flu and help prepare for future epidemics.
Millions died in the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic and a few years ago scientists were able to recover genetic samples of the virus from people buried in frozen regions.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, combined genes from the 1918 virus with modern viruses to identify their effects.
They found three genes that enabled the virus to colonise the lung, they report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researcher Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka said: "Conventional flu viruses replicate mainly in the upper respiratory tract: the mouth, nose and throat.
"The 1918 virus replicates in the upper respiratory tract, but also in the lungs. We wanted to know why the 1918 flu caused severe pneumonia."
Tags: Flu & Viruses | North America | World Health
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