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H1N1 mutated

porcine virus A/H1N1 influenza changed. This Japanese physicians have found by analyzing the genetic code of the virus taken from patients in Tokyo. Nevertheless, there is no reason to panic – H1N1 is not a new threat.

Thanks to a centralized system for storage and processing of genetic data about the mutation and its time to learn the nature of specialists around the world . Scientists have learned that one of the proteins of the virus, gemagglyutinin in two places has changed its constituent amino acids.

how dangerous this sport is and how it may affect the spread of the virus, has not yet been formally reported. However, existing reviews of the infection studied by doctors and scientists will make some conclusions now.

A/H1N1 – the old new influenza

The virus, which was distributed to the world in May, has already received several names. Initially it was called «pork» flu, because the first was a sick boy from Mexico, which is contracted from pigs. Later, in Canada, and the opposite happened: the farmer from infected animals. Name considered unsuccessful in Israel and suggested that the term «Mexican» flu, but this idea is not already supported by Mexicans. As a result of influenza called A/H1N1, having a medical symbol virus.

But think about that pig influenza A/H1N1 – a new disease, it would be wrong. In 1991 in the journal Journal of Virology article was published, the title of which sounds true, and after 18 years: «Mutations gemagglyutinina from pig influenza viruses H1».

What does it mean H1N1?

Gemagglyutinin – this protein, which gave the name of the virus in part, «H» in the title just denotes gemagglyutinin. The letter «N» denotes a different protein, neyraminidazu; digit code as the main types of proteins. And neyraminidaza, and provide gemagglyutinin viruses into the cell.

Furthermore, the databases of viruses can be found records of A/H1N1 virus in 1934 in the United States. And the disease has also affected pigs, so to say that the world was faced with «a new infection» still somewhat premature.

Pork flu – now human

Pork influenza A/H1N1, despite its reputation for doctors, has led to official recognition of a pandemic the World Health Organization. In the airports of many countries have additional posts of medical controls, frighten a pandemic Egyptian authorities have decided to hammer all the pigs. What, however, did not help: the first Egyptian already ill. The reason for the extermination of the pigs proved ineffective, lies in the virus: it has ceased to be exclusively «pork» and «learned» efficiently transmitted from person to person.

Before 2009 year, people are also infected by pigs, but much less frequently. Death of woman in Wisconsin (United States) in 1989 from a similar virus has been described in a separate article as an extraordinary case. But the flu, who escaped from Mexico in May 2009, proved otherwise. And, as became clear from the analysis of viral genome by Japanese researchers, it can mutate.

infect can not be pardoned

The virus, which is allocated in Tokyo June 15, differs from previously studied by scientists all samples two rotations in the genetic code. It’s a little bit, but biologists are known examples where such changes have led to dramatic effect: only one mutation in the human gene FoxL2 was recently described as the cause of ovarian cancer. Theoretically, mutations can dramatically alter the properties of the organism as a whole.

The word «theory» should be emphasized: the fact is that unambiguously predict the result of random changes in the genetic code is not yet possible. In addition, the mutation of another, not entirely new. A/H1N1 virus has mutated, the scientists even knows where, when and how these mutations occur.

mutation: not the first nor the last

Comparative analysis of various samples of pig influenza has allowed biologists to track its evolution, well before the current pandemic. From 1976 to 1982, pig influenza has changed nine times from 1982 to 1988 – eleven. Every time little changed protein, but this time the rate of change was less than that of the «human» virus, which is estimated to scientists, mutated three times faster. Reason to panic, therefore, becomes even smaller: «normal» influenza H3N2 mutates even faster, but its new varieties do not become a mortal threat to humanity.

Man accelerate the mutation?

Attention professionals to porcine epidemic influenza virus mutations and explained even if we consider that the flu is not yet dangerous usual. It is not even so much that there is little likelihood of the emergence of particularly dangerous strains, but that the spread of the virus among humans could lead to greater variability.

Such a conclusion could be drawn on the basis of the previously accumulated data. Analysis that is conducted before a pandemic virologists showed that pig influenza slowly changed due to the characteristics of the animal. Pigs kept on farms, between which there is little connection, and people move freely between cities and continents. Influenza, «out of the people», can evolve rapidly, followed by mutation in Tokyo, followed by others.

As far as they are dangerous – hard to say. Himself a virus similar to «normal» and influenza, most likely in the analog Ebola (mortality rate reaches 80% of patients), or other equally deadly disease, he would not turn.

have already been affected

It should be noted that Japanese doctors while successfully coping with the disease. In a country where the WHO has recorded 605 cases of infection has not yet been a single death. In Japan and Australia, doctors do not allow the worst, and their British colleagues has recorded a single case of death of the patient, and he has besides «pig» flu and it was a disease of the unnamed ethical considerations.

kills with influenza is usually a disease. The cause of death may be pneumonia, bronchitis or even meningitis. These diseases are caused by a virus is not H1N1 (or H3N2), and bacteria, the fight that requires the use of antibiotics under the supervision of a doctor. In severe cases, like «pig», and «normal» flu can trigger inflammation of the heart muscle, even, again, due to bacteria, «beneficiaries» serious condition and a decrease in body immunity.