107 years later, researchers “resuscitate” the Spanish flu virus

In order to unravel the secrets of the lethality of the Spanish flu, researchers have sequenced the genome of an early strain, revealing a certain number of mutations that have strengthened the capacity of the virus to infect human cells.

Critical adaptations – 107 years later, researchers "resuscitate"

The advanced figures vary a lot. Consequently, but it is estimated that the Spanish flu has left around 50 million dead worldwide between 1918 and 1920, which would make it the most deadly pandemic in history, in front of the black plague in the 14th century. Nevertheless, In France alone, more than 400,000 deaths have been recorded.

If the techniques used so far had not allowed the sequencing of the virus RNA involved (H1N1). a new approach made it possible to extract precious genetic information from the lung of one of the victims of the “first wave”, a young Zurich who died on July 15, 1918.

While it was largely supposed that pathogen had become more virulent from fall. thanks to a series of major changes, the authors of the new study, published in the journal BMC Biologynoted that the early viral strain circulated in Switzerland between spring and summer already presented three.

It turned out that two of these “critical adaptations” strengthened the ability of virus to escape a key protein (MXA) produced by the human immune system. which contributes to reducing the risk of transmission of avian type influence. The last has changed the shape of one of the 107 years later, researchers “resuscitate” pathogen surface proteins. allowing it to bind more effectively to human cell receptors.

Better predict the evolution of future pandemics

According to Verena Schünemann, a better understanding of this dramatic episode of recent history has important implications for the forecast of the evolution of future pandemics.

« For the first time, we have a Swiss influential genome “, Underlines the researcher. “” It offers us a unique overview of the virus adaptation dynamics at the start of the pandemic in Europe. Additionally, »

Last year, a study suggested an accidental origin for the mysterious pandemic of the H1N1 influenza of 1977.