Study Predicts Novel Approach to Battling Influenza

Although influenza has been studied for decades, the binding of the virus to host cells and its transmission remain a mystery. A new study, led by Rommie Amaro, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of UC San Diego’s National Biomedical Computation Resource, and her colleagues suggest that the proteins may use a ‘secret’ site to help in the binding and cutting process. A closer look at two glycoproteins on the influenza viral surface, neuraminidase (NA) and hemagglutinin (HA), allow for a better understanding of the fitness, transmissibility, infectivity, and virulence of the virus.