H5N1 Causes Controversy Concerning Balance Between Scientific Discovery And Public Safety
After scientists have engineered a new strain of H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, which is readily transmitted between humans, the Annals of Internal Medicine, the principal journal of the American College of Physicians, has published two perspectives online in advance, in which concerns are raised as to whether or not this research should be continued, and how the data should be shared for the benefit of public health. The H5N1 virus that is circulating at present has an extremely high mortality rate, killing approximately 60% of the more than 500 confirmed human incidents, but in comparison to seasonal flu, this strain has not has not spread easily amongst humans.
Researchers Discover Dual Role Of Key Player In Immune System
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine researchers have identified a new and unusual role for a key player in the human immune system. A protein initially believed to regulate one routine function within the cell has proven vital for another critical step in the activation of the immune system. That protein, STIM1, was previously known to sense a change in calcium within immune cells, a process that occurs when the body confronts a pathogen. Upon sensing this change, STIM1 opens a type of pore in the cell membrane, called a CRAC channel, to allow the flow of calcium ions - a vital step in activating the immune system.
Newly Engineered Highly Transmissible H5N1 Strain Ignites Controversy About Balancing Scientific Discovery And Public Safety
Scientists have engineered a new strain of H5N1 (commonly known as bird flu ) to be readily transmitted between humans. Two perspectives being published early online in Annals of Internal Medicine, the flagship journal of the American College of Physicians, raise concerns about if and how this research should be continued, and how the data should be shared for the benefit of public health. The currently circulating H5N1 virus has an extremely high case-fatality rate, killing about 60 percent of the over 500 confirmed human cases.