New flu vaccine? Drug shuts down resistant strains of influenza virus

Researchers show that DFSAs, a new class of influenza drug, can inactivate drug-resistant strains of the flu virus by shutting down a key enzyme. Researchers from the University of British Columbia led a study that was published in the journal Science Express, explaining their development of a new drug candidate that stops the flu virus from spreading from one cell to the next. The drug successfully treated mice exposed to lethal strains of the flu virus that were resistant to two flu antivirals that are currently on the market. The flu virus spreads in the body by using a protein called hemagglutinin, which binds to the receptors of healthy cells. After replicating in the healthy cell by inserting its own RNA, the flu virus emits an enzyme called neuraminidase that severs its connection, allowing it to move on to the next healthy cell and repeating the process. How the drug works: A “Broken Key” “Our...