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Study Finds Alternative Antiviral for Bird Flu Prevention and Treatment

Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of pathobiological sciences and a virologist (left), and post-doctoral research associate Masato Hatta use a Pippetteman to dilute influenza viral proteins in test tubes. Kawaoka and Hatta's lab research on the flu virus (Hong Kong H5N1 influenza A), reported Sept. 7, 2001 in Science magazine, has revealed how minor molecular changes can transform a benign virus into a highly deadly version. Photo by: Michael Forster Rothbart. Photo © UW-Madison University Communications.

The study, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of pathobiological sciences, appeared in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Pathogens on Feb. 26. It suggests that the compound CS-8958 is a promising alternative antiviral for prevention and treatment of bird flu.

Antiviral drugs are a key countermeasure against human influenza viruses, according to the university. This includes the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, which causes bird flu.

The emerging strains resistant to existing drugs, particularly oseltamivir (Tamiflu), make the development of alternate antivirals a public health issue, Kawaoka said. He and researchers from Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia tested a neuraminidase inhibitor R-125489 and its prodrug CS-8958, which had previously shown potent activity against seasonal influenza viruses in laboratory animals.

Working with mice, the researchers learned that a single intranasal dose of CS-8958 given two hours after infection with H5N1 influenza virus resulted in a higher survival rate and lower virus levels than a standard five-day course of oseltamivir. CS-8958 was also effective against highly pathogenic and oseltamivir-resistant strains of H5N1 virus, the university said.

In addition, CS-8958 protected mice against lethal H5N1 infection when given seven days before infection with the virus. This compound requires a single administration for treatment and prophylaxis, Kawaoka said.

Although further studies are needed to confirm the applicability of the findings to humans, CS-8958 is highly effective for the treatment and prophylaxis of infection with H5N1 influenza viruses, including oseltamivir-resistant mutants, the authors said. <HOME>

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Study Finds Alternative Antiviral for Bird Flu Prevention and Treatment

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Drugs are not the answer and a great deal of people profited out of their push for vaccines Ab Osterhaus, Declan Butler and Nature Magazine are all culpable in wanting the drug companies to sell billions of pounds worth of worthless swine flu/bird flu drugs. The European Union (EU) are currently investigating the motives behind the vast purchase of these drugs. They are all friends of the large pharmaceuticals. What they did not want to see was the alternative strategy to emerge of addressing the global threat at source. For the only way to stop bird flu/Swine flu et al indefinitely is to address the problem at source and never let it happen in the first place. It is the only way. http://avian-influenza.cirad. fr/content/download/1931/11789/file/Kennedy-F-Shor- tridge.pdf (your computer may prevent this download but I can assure you that it is perfectly safe to do so) http://distributedresearch. net/blog/tag/world-innovation-foundation Otherwise it will one day come back with a vengeance and wipe out a quarter of humanity. The Spanish Flu that killed up to 100 million (a Swine flu variant) will then be seen as the minor event in the world’s history of global pandemics. Funny how money always rises above human life itself ! Dr David Hill, Bern, NY Posted: 3/3/2010 3:55:34 AM Who is the author of this article? Amanda, Columbia, MO Posted: 2/28/2010 3:44:58 PM