Studies suggest that new immunotherapies for influenza virus infections may also help fight HIV and COVID-19

Unlike bacterial infections, viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. This well-known fact is at the core of all current research into the development of antiviral drugs. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears Other potentially life-threatening viral infections, such as influenza and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). What often happens with antiviral drugs is that successful drugs created for one infection also work to some extent for other viral diseases.

New research published in Nature Communications Researchers based at Purdue University suggest that they have devised a new type of immunotherapy designed with the flu in mind, but it may also be effective against. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears And HIV.It is important to note that this is not the first drug therapy developed for the flu and can also be fought COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears As a study of Nature In June 2020, a drug called baloxavir was shown to help treat both viral infections. Some studies It also shows that influenza vaccinations and vaccines can provide preventative measures. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears ..

Overcoming immunotherapy obstacles in the treatment of influenza

New research Nature Communications There are three common approaches that have shown considerable effectiveness in treating the flu, but each explains that it has some limitations. The three approaches listed are:

• Vaccines against common influenza antigens have been shown to be successful in limiting the severity and spread of the virus and are recommended annually to susceptible or at-risk populations. However, because most viruses mutate rapidly, these vaccines need to be represcribed annually and may not be able to fight the most virulent strains of the virus. Therefore, vaccinated patients can be infected with different strains of influenza despite being vaccinated.
• Neuraminidase inhibitors designed to block the viral glycoside hydrolases are often used to create effective influenza immunotherapy. Four neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir, oseltamivir, peramivir, and laninamivir) have been approved for the treatment of influenza. However, these inhibitors have little effect after more than two days have passed since the onset of influenza symptoms.
• Drugs such as baloxavir (as mentioned in the study above) can block the synthesis of viral mRNA, reduce viral load, and thereby alleviate the symptoms of influenza. However, baloxavir-resistant strains of the influenza virus have been found in patients, indicating that this broad-spectrum therapy may be less effective.

Researchers have observed the limitations of existing approaches and decided to combine two powerful approaches to create a potentially invincible solution. They selected a neuraminidase inhibitor called zanamivir that was effective against all known subtypes of influenza A and B viruses. Researchers then increased the immunogenicity of zanamivir by adding a potent hapten called the dinitrophenyl moiety (DNP moiety). The addition of this hapten may increase the production of anti-DNP antibodies against influenza and viruses.

zan-DNP: A new direction for immunotherapy

All humans naturally express anti-DNP antibodies to fight off viral invasion as part of their natural immune response. Created by researchers, the zanamivir-DNP conjugate (zan-DNP) not only effectively blocks the expression of viral enzymes, but also mobilizes the human immune system to combine with viruses or virus-infected cells in the body. You can also launch an attack.

To test the ability of zan-DNP, researchers administered 0.5 micromol / kg of zan-DNP or zanamivir and anti-DNP antibody to mice previously infected with a variation of influenza A virus. They found that mouse lung cells were successfully activated against the virus and the symptoms of the infection soon began to recede. At the same time, uninfected lung cells in mice were left intact and healthy to aid recovery.

Therefore, the newly created zan-DNP successfully initiates a two-way attack on the virus, overcoming obstacles to previous therapies. It is also because of these positive findings that the researchers behind this study believe that zan-DNP may also be effective against other pathogenic viral infections, including: is. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears , HIV, hepatitis B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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