There's a lot of buzzing about this particular virus lately, and I just made a small presentation about it with my fellow pharmacy students. My part was to explain the pathogenesis, it requires a fuzzy work to find the resources needed, cause this virus is new & even scientists don't know yet its exact 'journey or itinerary' in human body, how it can make us sick, etc.
From Spain flu to the most recent Swine flu, all types of influenza virus always cause sensations. I say it's not as bad as Avian (well...maybe this Swine flu has yet to show its claws, who knows?). Our view on why it's not as bad as Avian is because the way it spreads. Avian spread through birds, and swine through pigs. Birds can fly, it can go anywhere, thus enhances its mobility, the epidemic effect will appear quicker & broader than Swine. So what's with all the buzz? We think that it's related to economic conditions. Infected virus will have significant weight loss. Weight loss = meat loss. We all know that pork is one of important commodity to some countries. If pigs in their country produces less meat, they'll have less to sell. Let the economic people explain further, it's just not my field & I'm a bit retarded in anything economic.
How those viruses start to infect our body (and swines')?
In travel term (cause I love travelling), it's like you want to go to another country. How do you get there? By plane? Bus? Or train? It's the same with virus. It wants to travel around our body. How does it enter our body to get access to wander around?
Each influenza virus has surface proteins called Hemaglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). They're used to identify influenza virus strains. So the term H1N1 means the virus has Hemaglutinin type 1 and Neuraminidase type 1. The HA binds to its receptor in host cell (it's cyalic acid in human). The receptor is located on the membrane of respiratory tract epithelium. The binding makes both membranes (virus' and host's) to fuse, then virus can enter the host cell. Inside the host cell, it releases its RNA to host cell's nucleus to be replicated. The RNA forms mRNA, and then it'll be translated into proteins that form virus components. New viruses are made, they break host cell's membrane with NA so they can get out. Once they get out, they'll immediately use NA again to destroy host cell's cyalic acid so the new viruses can't bind to that cell again. And then they wander and spread around our body... (and swines, too)
Now that they have landed on our body (epithelial cells are like airport), let's see their plan...
Oh I have arrived at ABC airport! Yay, now today I'll rest and tomorrow I want to go there. And the next day to there...yes it's like a holiday itinerary. Only this time it's virus', not our itinerary.
This virus needs rest time before it starts to replicate (incubation period) that lasts about 1-3 days. Firstly, it invades upper respiratory tract. Then, as it multiplies to hundreds of new viruses, they go to lower respiratory tract. They make our bronchii and lymph nodes to enlarge. They also cause pneumonia (about day 21 after first infection) and pleuritis. Before I forget, the enlargement of lymph nodes causes lymphatic system to deteriorate (ugh...can't find the appropriate word at the moment, sorry). And because the lymphatic system is responsible for body defense, its malfunction can cause secondary (or opportunistic) infection(s).
That's all maybe. I may post picture later, a little look on this virus and its membrane proteins...
Oh and use respiratory, not mask. Google them to find the differences, I heard somewhere that mask won't work to prevent infection.
Be a survivor of Swine flu!
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