Human Para Influenza Viruses (HPIV)
Recently, scientists have discovered a new way to block the attachment of Human Para Influenza Viruses (HPIV).
Human Para Influenza Viruses
- HPIV is a major cause of respiratory infections in childhood. Children often die from this, more than 30 – 40 percent of children suffering from this disease die.
- HPIV injects genetic material into the cells by sticking to the cells. This is done so that the injected genetic material starts forming new viruses.
- Scientists have now found a way to block this entry. This method is highly efficient in inhibiting HPIV-3.
How is HPIV blocked?
- The virus uses special fusion proteins that resemble a three-sided corkscrew to enter human cells.
- Cholesterol and beta-amino acids were previously found to be useful to block HPIV. However, they were not efficient. Scientists have now created a new peptide by combining cholesterol and beta-amino acids.
- Gellman’s lab found that modified beta-amino acids containing peptides can block viruses.
- Moscona Protto lab previously combined the peptide with a particle of cholesterol. This formed a smooth cell membrane, which had blocked the virus.
- When the above two methods were mixed, the anti-viral effect tripled.
Peptides
- Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They are associated with each other in a sequence of peptide bonds. They differ from short-length proteins. Peptides help the human body fight germs.
Influenza
- Influenza is a type of virus that develops and reproduces within living cells.
- ‘Viruses’ attack living cells and use their chemical machinery to keep themselves alive and prepare their replication.
- Influenza flu is a highly contagious disease of our respiratory system. There are three types A, B, and C.
- Of these, A and B cause influenza, while Type C also shows symptoms of the flu, but this type of flu is less frequent.
- Influenza virus enters our body through the nose, eyes, and mouth. Also, it spreads from one person to another by coughing, sneezing, or being in contact with it.
Source – The Hindu
