The WHO has long declared a successful eradication of the deadly smallpox virus, one of history’s great viral killers, and the last (documented) natural case arose in Somalia in the late 1900’s. However when given the opportunity in 1999 (Science Daily, 2004), scientists declined to destroy the last living samples of the virus. There was a fear that if smallpox was revived by terrorist groups, and there was no readily available vaccine to prevent its spread, it could run unchecked through the world’s populace.
Recently, scientists at the University of Florida, USA and the University of Alberta in Canada made intriguing new discoveries about the inner workings of this complex pathogen.
Smallpox works against the human immune system by inhibiting inflammation, one of the body’s most important defence and healing mechanism. It does this via a protein-on-protein interaction at the molecular level, destroying a human protein believed to be necessary for activation of the gene which controls the inflammation and immune responses. Knowing the virus’s method of attack can help researchers understand how best to protect against potential future outbreaks.
But also knowing how inflammation can be inhibited, by dealing with the protein necessary to activate the gene that causes the condition, has huge potential to be useful in medicinal practice when treating severe inflammation as a harmful or even deadly condition.
References:
Science News: Science Daily, May 12, 2009. Accessed viaon 14/05/09
Science News: Science Daily, October 6, 2004. Accessed viaon 14/05/09
Recently, scientists at the University of Florida, USA and the University of Alberta in Canada made intriguing new discoveries about the inner workings of this complex pathogen.
Smallpox works against the human immune system by inhibiting inflammation, one of the body’s most important defence and healing mechanism. It does this via a protein-on-protein interaction at the molecular level, destroying a human protein believed to be necessary for activation of the gene which controls the inflammation and immune responses. Knowing the virus’s method of attack can help researchers understand how best to protect against potential future outbreaks.
But also knowing how inflammation can be inhibited, by dealing with the protein necessary to activate the gene that causes the condition, has huge potential to be useful in medicinal practice when treating severe inflammation as a harmful or even deadly condition.
References:
Science News: Science Daily, May 12, 2009. Accessed via
Science News: Science Daily, October 6, 2004. Accessed via
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