Researchers Dissect the Underlying Mechanism of the Flu

Statistics show that each year, between 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population will get the flu--a contagious respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. In rare cases, this health issue can even cause death, though it is typically treated with rest and any added recommendations from a primary care doctor.

A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) uncovers a well-hidden mechanism involved in the virus's method for attacking and infecting host cells. The study found that hemagglutinin--a glycoprotein that rides on the surface of the influenza virus--releases fusion peptides that ultimately invade the host cell.

"It may be the only case known to human beings where a protein starts at a fixed point and literally completely refolds," the researchers noted, in a news release. 

Findings revealed that the influenza hemagluttin protein may actually take two pathways to reconfigure its life while simultaneously attaching a virus to a host cell. In the first part, one path sends the fusion peptides to the host while the other path helps to split it up between the host and the virus.

With future studies, researchers hope to better identify a more clear point during the reconfiguration process at which drugs could inactive these peptides.

Though the flu is not typically dangerous, estimates show that each year, anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 people die from it in the United States, according to WebMD.

Those who are more susceptible to the health issue are typically younger children, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

Make sure you and your loved ones are vaccinated for the flu and take any necessary health precautions to prevent this issue.