Between 1918 and 1920, from 20 to 100 million people died around the world from. Spanish flu. This was one of the greatest pandemics of all time. However, this is very little known about her. Medicine has advanced more than in other pandemias, such as a medieval plague, but not so much to know exactly what mutations made the virus move the same way as it. For more than a century, this was a mystery, but now he finally has a solution thanks to a genetic study conducted by the international team of scientists.
This study was carried out from Basel University, In Switzerland. In fact, the sample used from this country, from USH Medical Collection. This is a model of the Spanish influenza virus, extracted in July 1918 during the autopsy of an 18 -year -old patient who died in the first wave of pandemic.
Since then, he remained preserved in formalin, but he did not try to study the virus genome. It would also not be simple, since the influenza viruses, such as what is caused by Spanish flu, They have genetic material in the form of RNAThis worsens much easier than DNA. Especially with time. Fortunately, the sample was preserved quite well, and the current sequencing methods made it possible to perfectly study what remained of their genetic material, to such an extent that mutations that made it so terrible.
What happened during the Pandemia of Spanish influenza?
The first cases of Spanish influenza were discovered in a military camp in Kansas, March 4, 1918. Only a month later the virus was already in Europe. The first cases were discovered in France, but First World War This contributed to the rapid distribution for the most part of the continent.
It is interesting that, although there were many cases in Spain, it was not the most affected country, and even more so. If he was known as Spanish flu, then it was because, being a country that did not participate in the war, this More space for media to cover the pandemia.
It turned out to be a very contagious virus, which extended faster than gunpowder, which also traveled between the soldiers. Millions of people died for two years from what seemed an uncontrollable virus. But what happened? Why was it so contagious and dangerous?
The answer arrived 100 years later
Thanks to the sequenication of the RNA of the Spanish influenza virus, it was possible to check that there were 3 very important mutationsThe first two field made it more a person resistant to the antivirus component of the human immune systemInstead of this, the third was facilitated by the virus to join Human cell receptors, Thanks to improved union protein. Only three mutations forced the virus to avoid protection from a person and easier to enter the cells. Continuing the military comparison, which also reigned at that time, he was invincible for enemy soldiers and had a huge ram to disrupt the doors of their strengths. The enemy was people and took them at high speed.
We must remember that this was noticed in the sample of the first wave in Switzerland. The first cases of the United States were not so serious. In fact, sequencing in this country and Germany was also done. This new study shows that as soon as infections begin, in Switzerland the virus has already mutated enough to spread at high speed.
All this decides a very old riddle over Spanish influenza. He tells us Why did it spread so quickly after arriving in EuropeNevertheless, today, today it can also help. The authors of the study claim that their conclusions can be very useful for combating future pandemias, since understanding of the past helps us better face the future. Covid-19 has already given us a lot of important knowledge, but the Spanish flu blocked many others who could help us prepare even better for what could happen. Thanks to the Union of Science and History, it was possible to decipher messages.
Source: Hiper Textual
