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Cold nose defense against avian flu
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A UK study has found that the avian flu hasn’t grown to its full pandemic potential because it cannot survive in the cold temperature of the nose.
Diseases can only infiltrate certain areas of the body such as the mouth, nose, eyes, or open wounds. Many infections spread via coughs and sneezes, traversing shorts distances in the air to the next viable host. Inhaling those virus particles is how many become ill with viruses such as the flu. But all living things, including viruses, have temperature tolerance levels, and apparently, the 32 degree Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) environment is too cold for the avian flu to survive.
Scientists from Imperial College in London have found that all human viruses are impacted by the cold temperatures to some extent, but that many are able to overcome the cool temperatures and maintain their replication regime. However, the avian flu strains failed to completely infiltrate the human system, most likely because they are “adapted to suit the warmer 40 degree (Celsius) environments in the guts of birds.” [BBC]
This means that in order for the avian flu to become effective against humans, it must first undergo a mutation that allows it to survive at 32 degrees Celsius. And this applies to any virus, not just the flu. Professor Wendy Barclay stated “further research could point to warning signs in viruses that are beginning to make the kinds of genetic changes for them to jump into humans.” [BBC]
Viruses capable to replicating at low temperatures may be more likely to make the host transfer from animal to human than those restricted to a warmer environment. One factor that could help make predicting the next pandemic-causing virus is discovering which surface proteins are better suited to cold temperatures. Surface proteins are an essential part of the flu virus, showing which type of host can be infected and giving rise to the name assigned to each strain (a detailed explanation can be found here on a flu fact sheet).
Barclay suggested that the H1N1 swine flu currently being passed from human to human is “probably an example of a virus which had adapted to cope with the cooler temperatures in the nose.” [BBC]
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