Mutations help flu evade drugs
Two extra mutations in the seasonal influenza virus are responsible for the evolution of the virus into forms resistant to the available drugs, a new study says.
Latest figures revealed that seasonal flu is responsible for the death of some 250,000-500,000 individuals every year in different parts of the world.
Four drugs are already available for treating seasonal flu and reducing its symptoms; there is, however, no guarantee that they remain effective for long.
Tamiflu, generically known as oseltamivir, is the drug of choice in these patients. A circulating strain of seasonal H1N1, however, became resistance to Tamiflu about two years ago.
H274Y mutation had long been believed to be responsible for the evolution of the new resistant strain; it, however, could not explain the changes reported in the virus' ability to replicate and be transmitted.
"Something happened to make the Tamiflu-resistant virus also capable of replicating and spreading like wild-type flu viruses," said lead researcher Jesse Bloom.
According to the study published in Science, two other mutations in the virus allowed it not only to become resistant to Tamiflu but also to survive and spread.
These mutations are believed to occur before the changes that help the virus strain evade the drugs, the study found.
Scientists are, therefore, optimistic that their findings would provide them with a strategy to keep an eye on the initial two mutations and to give early warnings before the virus becomes drug resistant.
Source: presstv.ir
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