Objective: To investigate antiviral activity of maca to reduce viral load in kidney (MDCK) cells infected with influenza type A and B viruses (Flu-A and MFalud-inB-, Dreasrpbeyc ctiavneilny)e. Methods: Maca were extracted with methanol (1:2, v/v). The cell viability and toxicity of the eaxgtariancstts Fwluer-eA e avnaldu aFtleud- oBn v MirDusCeKs cwealsls a usssianyge dm uetshinogd aM TteTs ta sfosar yd. eAtenrtmiviinrainl ga ctthiev itiyn hoifb citoimonp oouf nthdes cytopathic effect on cell culture and multiplex RT-PCR. Results: The methanol extract of maca showed low cytotoxicity and inhibited influenza-induced cytopathic effect significantly, while viral load was reduced via inhibition of viral growth in MDCK infected cells. Maca contains potent inhibitors of Flu-A and Flu-B with a selectivity index [cytotoxic concentration 50%/IC50] of 157.4 and 110.5, respectively. Conclusions: In vitro assays demonstrated that maca has antiviral activity not only against Flu-A (like most antiviral agents) but also Flu-B viruses, providing remarkable therapeutic benefits. / Financial support of this study was provided by AECID grants (PCI: C/033641/10) and AGAUR (MAT2009-11503, MAT2012-36205, 2009SGR-1208). JDVM support was provided by 1st Concurso Incentivo a la Investigación de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru. / Revisión por pares

Influenza is a segmented negative strand RNA virus. Each RNA segment is encapsulated by viral nucleoprotein (NP) and bound by the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) to form viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) responsible for RNA synthesis. NP is a structural component of the vRNP but also interacts with both viral and host factors to regulate viral RNA expression. NP is conserved among influenza A isolates, making NP interactions compelling antiviral targets. Here I characterize mutations within 5 amino acids of NP that comprise an accessible region of the NP body domain, as determined by NP crystal structure. This region was selected for mutagenesis to target interaction between NP and RdRP. NPbd3 encodes glycine at 5 amino acids within the accessible NP body domain. Cellular fractionation and Western Blot, in addition to NP-GFP fusions and fluorescence, confirm NPbd3 was expressed and localized as WT-NP. Gel shift with purified NP protein confirm NPbd3 bound nucleic acids as WT-NP. Although NPbd3 was expressed, localized, and bound nucleic acid as WT-NP, I found NPbd3 was defective for RNA expression in reconstituted vRNPs, as evaluated by reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To investigate this NP body domain further, single and double amino acid mutations were cloned. Analysis of NP single mutants revealed that all were nearly as functional as WT-NP for RNA expression in reconstituted vRNPs, suggesting these accessible amino acids in the NP body domain play a redundant role. However, four different combinations of two amino acid mutations resulted in NP double mutants that displayed a significant defect in RNA expression in reconstituted vRNPs, confirming these accessible amino acids in the NP body domain play a significant role for viral RNA synthesis. A disruption in an essential NP interaction with the RdRP is likely the explanation for the RNA defect observed. In support of this, avian influenza virus passaged in human cells resulted in virus with one NP amino acid change in this domain consistently paired with specific changes in the PB2 subunit of the RdRP. I reason this accessible body domain of NP is a viable antiviral target. Indeed, two amino acids in this NP body domain comprise a novel groove implicated in binding the small molecule inhibitor nucleozin. My thesis highlights this conserved NP body domain as an important interaction surface essential for viral RNA synthesis and support further investigation of antiviral drugs that target this region of NP.

<p>In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic killed an estimate number of between 50 and 100 million people worldwide. 40 years later a new influenza pandemic, the Asian flu spread throughout the world. The Asian flu hit a large proportion of the world’s population but the case-fatality rate was lower and an estimated number of 2 to 4 million people died in the pandemic. In order for today’s governments to formulate good preparedness plan for future influenza pandemics, studying previous pandemics can give better understanding of how the community might be affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Asian flu pandemic on the Swedish military forces. By seeing if the regiment was affected by the Asian flu one can then assume that the whole society was affected. Data from Swedish regiments has been collected from the Defence Medical Administration Service at the National Archives and processed trough SPSS. The findings show that there where an increase of the amount of sick as well as the number of sick leaves during 1957 compared to previous and later years. Because of the increase in sick leaves one can draw the conclusion that the society has a great risk of being influenced. Hence, a preparedness plan will be even more important. Conclusion: The community is affected by influenza pandemic in both an economical and a societal level. The effects are short in time since infected recover quite quick. However, there are effects which could be better handled if the government is prepared and has conducted a plan for when the next pandemic influenza strikes.</p>

Wermland was affected by the Spanish flu like the Swedish national average, about a half percentage of Wermlands population would lose their lives to the flu during the autumn 1918. The flu has for many fallen into oblivion. This oblivion is so wide spread that it´s possible to talk about a "collective forgetfulness". The society have selected to remember 1918 for "when the guns went quiet on the western front" and not for the millions who died from the treacherous Spanish flu. The world had already suffered enough from the four years of war that had been fought, thus the victims of the flu would be honored but would soon fade in to oblivion.   When you investigate deeper you get the picture that the national average don´t do Wermland and its cities or rural areas any justice when a large variations seems to occur within regional areas. One of Sweden's hardest effected cities was Kristinehamn and some miles north of this city you could find Kroppa rural county. This small county focused on iron works has two small central communities. Both of them had iron/tube mill owned by the same company, Storfors Bruk AB. During the autumn of 1918, Kroppa came in firsthand experience the Spanish flu and it´s expansion, which will get considerable effects how people in these areas could live their lives. As this wouldn´t be enough a diphtheria epidemic would also cause havoc and despair in Kroppa at the same time as the flu. The diphtheria will harvest new victims from a group that during the flu had been relative safe, the children. Even that Kroppa rural county experience a difficult period there behavior will prevent that fear are spread to the public.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-199).

With the help of sermon manuscripts from the time of the Spanish flu, held within the Church of Sweden, new light is shed on sermons held in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The comparison shows, among other things, that a shift has been made in how God is portrayed. It also points to some challenging questions about suffering, hope and the role of eternity in preaching today.

No description available.

The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus quickly became a pandemic and a threat to the health of many across the globe. H1N1 was able to preferentially bind to pneumocytes in the lower lung, resulting in atelectasis, surfactant disruption, and eventual acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Management of ARDS during this time included non-ventilatory and ventilatory techniques such as conservative fluid management, prone positioning, differing PEEP levels, and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). High cost, unequal global access to ECMO centers, and complication rates present challenges to future ECMO expansion. Despite this, the available information supports the use of ECMO for H1N1-associated ARDS. Future studies and simulations should be conducted to expand the knowledge base on using ECMO as a treatment for pandemic influenza-associated ARDS, with particular attention on bridging gaps in access for the most vulnerable and affected populations.

No description available.

At the end of February 1957, the WHO announced that a highly contagious flu epidemic was raging in China, where hundreds of thousands of people had fallen ill. This flu then spreads with furious speed over the rest of the world and becomes known as the Asian flu. The main purpose of the essay is to use a qualitative content analysis to investigate and compare how the Asian flu pandemic was portrayed in the Swedish newspapers Norrskensflamman and Dagens Nyheter at its outbreak in 1957. The reason why these two newspapers have been chosen is due to their differences in quantity, political tendency and their geographical locations. Both dailies have also been available digitally. Based on own investigations in the thesis, as well as research on previous epidemics that have affected Sweden, three themes have been identified; panic, vaccines and societal change. These are a starting point for seeking answers to what the portrayal looks like, what differences there are between the newspapers and whether Norrbotten is affected in a different way compared to the rest of Sweden. The articles on the Asian flu that have been investigated have been located in the two newspapers and compared in relation to each other. The essay shows both similarities and differences in the newspapers' reporting of the Asian flu, where the most prominent are the panic aspects. Together, both newspapers report a much lower death toll from the flu than the actual one, but differ in how much responsibility they take to prevent public panic, for example through word choice. Their early reporting on the work with vaccines also helps to calm and convey that the situation is under control. On the other hand, the content of the articles changes quickly when it is clear that the infection is raging in Sweden. Information in the newspapers regarding societal changes is sparse and there are few indications that they are permanent.There are no clear indications that Norrbotten was hit much harder by the Asian flu than the rest of Sweden, quite the opposite.