Sandbox 111: Difference between revisions
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'''Introduction''' | '''Introduction''' | ||
Influenza A, better known as the flu, an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. Basic symptoms include aches, chills, fever, loss of energy and dizziness, but complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, bronchitis, and death—about 36,000 people every year die of complications from the flu (CDC). | Influenza A, better known as the flu, an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. Basic symptoms include aches, chills, fever, loss of energy and dizziness, but complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, bronchitis, and death—about 36,000 people every year die of complications from the flu (CDC). | ||
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The function of the M2 channel can be inhibited by the antiviral drug Amantadine, an inhibition that effectively blocks the virus from taking over the host cell. Amantadine inhibits the replication of influenza A viruses by interfering with the uncoating of the virus within the cell. Amantadine is an M2 inhibitor that blocks the ion channel formed by the M2 protein that spans the viral membrane. By blocking this channel, Amantadine effectively prevents the acidification and subsequent release of viral elements into the host cell. Unfortunately, the M2 gene is susceptible to mutations. When one of five (of the 22) amino acids in the transmembrane region is suitably substituted, Amantadine no longer binds in such a way that would block the motion of the protons into the virus. As of 2009, the CDC noted that a full 100% of Influenza A viruses of types H3N2 and 2009 pandemic flu samples cultured in the United States showed a resistance to Amantadine (CDC). | The function of the M2 channel can be inhibited by the antiviral drug Amantadine, an inhibition that effectively blocks the virus from taking over the host cell. Amantadine inhibits the replication of influenza A viruses by interfering with the uncoating of the virus within the cell. Amantadine is an M2 inhibitor that blocks the ion channel formed by the M2 protein that spans the viral membrane. By blocking this channel, Amantadine effectively prevents the acidification and subsequent release of viral elements into the host cell. Unfortunately, the M2 gene is susceptible to mutations. When one of five (of the 22) amino acids in the transmembrane region is suitably substituted, Amantadine no longer binds in such a way that would block the motion of the protons into the virus. As of 2009, the CDC noted that a full 100% of Influenza A viruses of types H3N2 and 2009 pandemic flu samples cultured in the United States showed a resistance to Amantadine (CDC). | ||
'''Overall Structure''' | '''Overall Structure''' | ||
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'''References''' | '''References''' | ||
Cady, S.D., Schmidt-Rohr, K., Wang, J., Soto, C., DeGrado, W.F., Hong, M. "Structure of the amantadine binding site of influenza M2 proton channels in lipid bilayers," (2010) ''Nature'' '''463''': 689-692. | Cady, S.D., Schmidt-Rohr, K., Wang, J., Soto, C., DeGrado, W.F., Hong, M. "Structure of the amantadine binding site of influenza M2 proton channels in lipid bilayers," (2010) ''Nature'' '''463''': 689-692. | ||