Advantage flu virus: Scientists discover one of the ways the influenza virus disarms host cells
Thursday, August 23, 2012 - 16:30
in Health & Medicine
Scientists have discovered one of the ways the influenza virus disarms our natural defense system. The virus decreases the production of key immune regulating proteins in human cells that help fight the invader. The virus does this by turning on the microRNAs -- little snippets of RNA -- that regulate these proteins. The researchers are among the first to show the influenza virus can change the expression of microRNA to control immune responses in human lung cells.