Influenza Virus has protein that hides it and can be used to treat autoimmune disease
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system of your body to attack healthy cells.
2) Influenza Virus can easily hide from immune system of humans.- Published on 25 Feb 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Both 1 and 2
- The virus contains a protein that masks the virus entering the cell. In this way, the influenza virus can spread more easily before the immune system recognises that it is a virus and attempts to fight it.
- In Autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues and creates chronic inflammation.
- The little protein that is able to mask the influenza virus from the immune system can be used to combat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis as well as the relatively rare disease lupus, which to a great extent affects young women.
- The protein’s immunosuppressant effect can possibly be used to develop better treatments for these types of diseases, where the immune system is chronically overactive. By suppressing the immune system’s reaction, the symptoms can be reduced.
