Science Current Event Summary 1:

This is a truly fascinating article on the results of an experiment from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Follow this link to find more details: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130812125331.htm

Purpose:
The researchers involved were exploring a new way to fight the flu.

Hypothesis:
Their new method, the "molecular biocontaminant approach", will be effective in fighting certain types of influenza. This method mimics the way plants fight diseases.

Procedure:
They modify the genetics of a virus (in this case H5N1), "adding a binding site for a miRNA found in human cells", after which it mutates into something similar to an siRNA in plant cells, a molecule that latches onto and destroys viruses. They used an miRNA that exists in lung cells of humans and mice, but not the lung cells of ferrets. They then exposed the virus to mice and ferrets.

Results:
The lung cells of the mice destroyed the virus on contact, but the transmission of the virus remained unchanged in the ferrets.


Conclusion:
The hypothesis was supported by the experiment. One researcher commented, "It is clear that we can apply this technology to any virus. The only requirements are that we need a miRNA that is present in humans, but not in the model system where we want to study the virus, such as in ferrets. We also need a viral genome that permits insertion of miRNA target sites."

Questions:
1. What virus, if any, does the team plan to focus on next?
2. Who discovered the system in plants that this method was based off of?
3. What plans does the team have for the future?

 
Sources:
The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2013, August 12). Scientists develop method that ensures safe research on deadly flu viruses: Strategy turns molecules in human lung cells into viral scissors that cut H5N1 bird flu and similar bugs into pieces. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 12, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2013/08/130812125331.htm