Scientists Discover Natural Flu Fighting Proteins

Boston (DbTechNo) - Scientists have found natural flu fighting proteins that may one day be a key component to vaccines.

Writing in an article published in the journal Cell they detail their discovery of a group of genes which act like guards, protecting cells from incoming flu viruses.

They came to this interesting discovery by using a technique known as RNA interference - turning off specific genes and then exposing cells to various flu viruses.

By using this method the scientists discovered a group of proteins called interferon-indicible transmembrane proteins which appear to protect us from flu.

The lab tests performed by the scientists also showed that this technique could be a possible treatment for many other types of viruses, including West Nile, and Dengue.

“If you get rid of it (the protein), the virus can replicate 5 to 10 times faster. What that means is your cells have a mechanism that can block 80 to 90
percent of the virus that gets in,” said study leader Stephen Elledge of Harvard Medical School and a Howard Hughes Investigator.