Emerging Viruses BY PLAN A. Topic Questions Why are these new viruses more harmful compared to the previous form of the virus? Why is it so difficult.

Emerging VirusesBY PLAN A

Topic Questions

Why are these new viruses more harmful compared to the previous form of the virus?

Why is it so difficult to control the new viruses?

Why are these new viruses affecting humans?

Objectives

Mutated viruses and their harmfulness Why is it so difficult to control the new

viruses?Why are these new viruses affecting

humans?

Vaccines:

Mode of protection Provide an immune response Immune System of receiving individual

develop Anti-bodies“Remembering” T-cells

How are the Vaccines Administered?

Via “shot” injection or nasal spray Vaccines made

Parts of infecting agentModified version of agent or DNA/RNA

Body learn fight off diseaseBecoming infectedReceiving a vaccination

How does this relate to Emerging Viruses?

Recent increase un people not being vaccinated More being infected with diseases previously

“under control” Drug treatment against disease

Positive effect: improve a person’s healthNegative effect: mutation of the disease &

building resistance against drug treatment (ever occurring cycle)

Antiviral Resistance

Virus mutates to prevent the antiviral drug is no longer effective

4 (FDA-approved) Antiviral Drugs fight against influenza virus

Amantadine-high resistance level with current circulating flu viruses

Not recommended for usage

Rimantadine

Zanamivir (Relenza)

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Example: Swine Flu

2009 Swine Flu (H1N1) had 2 genes Flu viruses normally found in pigs (Europe & Asia) Avian & human genes

Antigenic drift & Antigenic shift Drift-small, gradual changes mutations in genetic

material to surface of proteins Shift-abrupt, major change produces new influenza

subtype

Conclusion:

PLEASE get vaccinated (help save millions of lives each year)Vaccines are heighten or created to

protect people from mutated virusesHelp delay the virus/bacteria mutationCurrently is the only form of medical

prevention against emerging viruses

Further Questions

How can we as scientists develop anti-virals that will combat these emerging viruses, and that will not succumb to viral resistance?

How can scientists develop methods to better predict in a matter that can exactly pinpoint, which strains of the flu will be most prevalent?

Is there the potential to create vaccines for genetic diseases?

Given that there are viruses that have transferred from animals to humans (H1N1), are there any viruses that have evolved from humans to other species?