Potential new treatment for deadly nipah, hendra viruses identified
October 29th, 2010 - 5:20 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Oct 29 (ANI): Scientists have identified a potential new treatment for the Nipah and Hendra viruses, two lethal and emerging viruses for which there is currently no treatment or vaccine available.
The finding by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College could also lead to new treatments for measles, mumps and influenza.
The Nipah and Hendra viruses are members of the genus Henipavirus, a new class of virus in the Paramyxoviridae family, which includes the measles and the human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) that causes pediatric respiratory disease.
The henipaviruses are carried by fruit bats (flying foxes) and are capable of causing illness and death in domestic animals and humans.
“These viruses are of great concern. The Hendra virus is highly fatal and is a considered a potential agent of bioterrorism. It currently poses a serious threat to livestock in Australia, where sporadic and deadly transmission to humans has occurred, with the potential for broader dissemination,” says Dr. Matteo Porotto, the study’s lead author
“And the Nipah virus, which causes fatal encephalitis in up to 70 percent of human cases, causes seasonal outbreaks in Asia with person-to-person transmission now becoming a primary mode of infection. This virus could certainly cause global outbreaks,” Dr. Porotto said.
Dr. Porotto and colleagues present a new strategy to prevent and treat these infections that may be broadly applicable for other “enveloped” viral pathogens, characterized by an outer wrapping that comes from the infected host cell.
The new treatment was successfully tested in an animal model demonstrating central nervous system symptoms similar to those seen in humans.
The new research appears in today’s edition of the prestigious journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens. (ANI)
- Artificial cells to trap deadly viruses - Mar 03, 2011
- Malaria drug takes on two deadly emerging viruses - Mar 06, 2009
- Scientists use artificial, cell-like 'honey pots' to lure, trap deadly viruses - Mar 03, 2011
- Pigs can spread deadly Hendra virus to humans - Feb 01, 2010
- Major advance in human antibody therapy against deadly Nipah virus - Oct 31, 2009
- Hepatitis C-related virus in Asian bats could cut human infections - Jul 02, 2010
- Research for Congo virus antidote on: Health expert - Jan 23, 2011
- Discovery on measles could spur less toxic cancer cure - Nov 06, 2011
- Livestock boom worsening epidemics risks globally - Feb 14, 2011
- Deadly Chinese outbreaks linked to new virus - Mar 23, 2011
- Blame the birds for the pesky common cold - Nov 21, 2008
- Now, GM chickens that don't spread bird flu - Jan 14, 2011
- US kids get measles after travelling abroad - May 06, 2011
- New tool that can quickly identify dangerous viruses developed - Nov 23, 2010
- German measles symptoms in 30 kids alarm Manipur health officials - Jul 19, 2009
Tags: animal model, central nervous system, cornell medical college, domestic animals, emerging viruses, encephalitis, flying foxes, fruit bats, hendra virus, host cell, measles, new strategy, nipah virus, parainfluenza virus, prestigious journal, public library of science, respiratory disease, viral pathogens, weill cornell medical, weill cornell medical college