In the laboratory, the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a relatively low (second) level of bio security professor Yashihiro Kvoaka created a strain of the virus, which deal with the human immune system is not capable. New genetically grown virus is based on the infamous swine flu virus H1N1, killed five years ago, a total of 500 000 people.
Most people now have some level of immunity to resist the virus H1N1, so the scientific community it has a relatively low level of risk. However Kavaoka genetically modified H1N1, so that he could "avoid" neutralizing antibodies, which are in our bodies. All this makes the human immune system (and humanity as a whole) not ready for confrontation against this virus infection outbreak it happen.
Kavaoka decided to convert its pre-pandemic H1N1 to state for the possibility of studying genetic changes in the process. The scientist said in an interview with The Independent that he completed his studies and will publish their results in a scientific journal. He also shared the newspaper that the goal of the experiment was to observe the changes in the strain H1N1, which subsequently will improve the existing vaccine against him.
"By selecting viruses capable to avoid exposure to the immune system in a carefully prepared under laboratory conditions, we were able to identify the key aspects that allow the H1N1 virus in 2009 to avoid the resistance of our immunity" - quoted Professor Kavaoka published article.
"The clinical virus strains showed the presence of changes in the same viral protein. This observation suggests that the mechanisms of protection from viruses, resulting in natural environment, have much in common with the mechanisms of protection from viruses that we create in the laboratory. "
"We believe that our research will make a tangible contribution to the study of this trend, especially when you consider how many viruses we generate and analyze them in the laboratory."
"The risks have at each examination. However, there is always a possibility to minimize these risks. As with all research on influenza viruses in my lab, they all held high-class and experienced staff under the strict and constant supervision of the Committee on Bio-safety, which, by the way, and approved the conduct of these studies. "
Original research conducted at the Institute for Research of influenza viruses in Madison. Laboratory of the institution complies with the third level of bio-security. For example, institutions with bio-safety level above can conduct research Ebola virus. However, the work that leads Professor Kavaoka, carried out in a laboratory with bio-safety level "2". University of Wisconsin states that there is no likelihood that the virus can escape.