STRUCTURE OF THE SWINE FLU VIRUS

2640 WORDS

THE 1918 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC AND CYTOKINE STORM

Morens and Fauci (2020) states that the 1918 influenza pandemic killed 50-100 million people worldwide was caused by an influenza virus which is a subtype of H1N1 virus. Furthermore they outlines that the 1918 pandemic apparently arose to a new human host due to a genetic adaptation by an existing avian virus. In their thorough review of related studies Taubenberger and Morens (2019) concluded that an influenza virus requires binding of the glycoprotein called heamagglutinin on their surface to host cells sialic acid receptors to cause the infection. Subsequently they indicates that the 1918 viruses have the avian mutated receptor configuration with only 1 amino acid change sequence to bind the receptors of human host cells with α(2-6) linkage which lead to a critical step in human host adaptation.

Van-Tam and Sellwood (2019) defines that the systemic expression of an exaggerated immune response against pathogen is called ‘cytokine storm’. As a result of that they explains that the activated immune cells stimulate the production of too many immune cells by cytokines in one location. Klatz and Goldman (2011) proposes that this cytokine storm may be caused when the immune system come up against a new extremely pathogenic invader, such as H1N1 influenza virus. In conclusion of above sequence, authors demonstrates that a rapid accumulation of fluids in the lungs coupled with tissue inflammation, generates a struggle to carry oxygen, thus putting added pressure on the respiratory and circulatory system as it can lead toward life threatening.

Research suggests that cytokine storm were responsible for many of the deaths during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed many young adults (Klatz and Goldman, 2011)

(Word count 272)