Back to the topic of Avian Influenza (bird flu)
Dr. Milad Ibrahim Arabi
I have been very tired in researching and investigating this damned disease, scientists themselves are confused about this virus, so what about me? I write, speak, and educate people and workers in the poultry industry about this disease and how dangerous it is, and this is what my conscience and profession dictate, as Dr. Fouad Al-Sheikhly always tells me (Honesty, honesty in conveying information, Milad, we are all learning and I am the first of you).
The topic of influenza is a long topic that is not enough for books and researches. The problem with the influenza virus is that it is a single-stranded RNA virus (ssRNA virus), and consists of eight genome segments (8 Segment), the most important of which are (HA and NA). The problem lies in the region of (The viral polymerase complex), which can be defined as (composed of three subunits: PB1, PB2 (polymerase basic protein‐1 and ‐2, respectively) and PA (polymerase acidic protein. What is meant by pb1 and pb2 and pa(
Scientists previously believed that each form of virus infects a specific species, for example, the bird flu virus infects birds only and cannot infect humans, and vice versa is also true. The statement is correct because the bird flu virus has a special receptor in birds that is not present in humans, and vice versa is also true, that is, in other words, the (lock and key) theory.
The receptor for the bird flu virus is sialic acid (SA), bind the α-2,3 SA, while the receptor for Influenza virus in humans is α-2,6 isoform. Therefore, it is difficult for bird flu virus to infect humans and vice versa.
However, recent research indicates the presence of receptors (α-2,3 SA) present in humans in the deep respiratory system (deep respiratory truck) in the (pulmonary alveolus lung) area.
But the important question is how does the virus enter and pass all these immune defenses in order to reach this area and infect the cells that carry these receptors? After research, they found that people who have immune diseases such as (immunodeficiency disease) or people who have chronic respiratory problems or elderly people who have diabetes and high blood pressure are more susceptible to this disease, as the virus can penetrate all defenses and reach these cells, but up to here and the work has stopped because the disease is not an epidemic (pandemic) or like the Corona pandemic, so it is not transmitted from person to person and there is no problem.
They have proven that the infection only occurs to people who are in direct contact with birds and have certain diseases, so I am very worried about this issue, because we are in direct contact with birds and all workers in the poultry industry from workers, breeders and doctors, this is first. Secondly, which is the disaster, in recent research, scientists found that the (polymerase complex) and the responsible genes (pb1 and pb2 and pa) in the bird flu virus have the ability to change at an amazing speed, and this rapid change will lead to (machting) with a different receptor, and thus here is the disaster, so that the bird flu virus can recognize the receptor present in human cells such as (α-2,6 isoform), which is considered normal for this virus, and thus a human infection will occur and then (human to human transfer) will occur, which may enter the scope of the epidemic (pandemic), which is not to be praised, and here lies the danger of bird flu.
Finally, I say that we should vaccinate with (Autogenous killed vaccines), isolated from the same country in which the vaccine is manufactured, but be very careful when manufacturing it.
