How Swine Flu Works – It Infects Cells Deep In The Lungs

Wondering how the Swine Flu virus actually works? A study that was released yesterday showed that the Swine flu virus can infect cells deeper in the lungs than seasonal flu, thus helping to increase the severity of the illness.

Influenza viruses penetrate cells by attaching themselves to molecules (called receptors) that are located on the outside of the cell wall. Seasonal virus strains typically attach themselves almost exclusively to cells that are found in the throat, nose and upper airway, thus helping to cause some of influenza’s signature symptoms – scratchy throat, runny nose, a dry cough.

The swine flu virus however sticks to a greater range of receptors than seasonal virus strains, and so it can also breach cells deep in the lungs.

The swine flu study was funded by the European Union, and published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. It basically provides the first laboratory confirmation of reports from front-line doctors that some patients with swine flu (h1n1) virus tend to suffer worse symptoms compared to those with a normal seasonal flu.