Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that can cause mild to severe symptoms. There currently is no effective treatment for the flu due to the virus’ ability to constantly mutate. Although the best way to prevent getting the flu is through vaccination, there is still a chance that you can contract it. As a result, researchers have been searching for a better, more effective approach towards treatment and protection against the flu. Fortunately, a recent discovery may make treatment possible.
Image source: fStop Images – Ralf Hiemisch
Researchers have discovered that a protein in the brain called AcPb is involved in flu recovery. They found that AcPb and interleukin-1 work together to regulate sleep, causing animals to sleep more when infected with illnesses. Since sleep is important for the body to deal with bacterial and viral infections, AcPb plays an important role in helping the body recover from the flu. The researchers conducted their study by giving H1N1 influenza virus to two groups of mice with and without AcPb. The results were that after being infected, the mice without AcPb slept less, developed more severe symptoms, and died at higher rates. From these results, the researchers concluded that the presence of AcPb significantly reduces the negative effects of the flu.
The discovery of AcPb’s important role in flu recovery may lead to the development of more effective treatments; one possible treatment is using intranasal sprays in order to stimulate the production of AcPb.
Feature Image Source: Flu Shots by Mike Mozart
