Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/RtDaP6MJ-xU

Shells that engulf influenza viruses preventing their infectivity may someday prevent the seasonal flu without vaccines.  German researchers report successful use of this strategy in pre-clinical trials.

 

The researchers take phages, viruses that ordinarily attack bacteria, and empty out their genetic material.  They adapt these empty nanoshells for attachment to flu virus like Velcro® thereby preventing the virus from attacking human respiratory cells.  The non-infective phage nanoshell may also trigger a more vigorous immune elimination response against the inactivated flu viruses.

 

This approach isn’t ready for prime time yet, but it may also prove useful for controlling coronaviruses including our current CoVid19.  Let’s hope we don;’t have to wait till 2525.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-020-0660-2

 

#phage #influenza #coronavirus #nanotechnology