Smoking Pig?

[trailhound]

I was reading this study done in canada earlier this year that Sociostudent turned me on to.  They gave the 1918 spanish flu to some pigs...here's an interesting note from the study:
 


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 Swine have been proposed as an intermediate host in the indirect transmission of
5 influenza A viruses from an avian reservoir to humans, based on the unique distribution in pigs
6 of 2-3 and 2-6 linked sialic acid moieties that are considered to be avian- and human-specific
7 receptors for influenza A viruses, respectively. The presence of the avian and human receptors in
8 the swine respiratory tract can enable the pigs to become infected with either avian or human
9 influenza A viruses, setting the stage for reassortant events between swine, avian, and human
10 viruses, or for adaptation of an avian virus to a mammalian receptor (20). Support for this
11 hypothesis can be found in the isolation of entirely avian or human viruses from swine, as well as
12 reassortant viruses that contain swine, human, and avian genes (2, 13, 22, 42, 43). Reports also
13 document interspecies transmission from pigs to people (21, 42). However, even though the 1957
14 and 1968 human pandemic viruses were human-avian reassortants, there is no evidence the
15 reassortment occurred in pigs. This classical theory was based on the contemporary knowledge of
16 receptor distribution in different host species, and it has been recently questioned, also in light of
17 proven direct transmission of avian influenza to humans (40).
Downloaded from jvi.asm.org by on May 4, 2009
 
Full study here:
http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/JVI.02399-08v1
 
THEN after thinking this sounded scary relevant i saw this about the new H1N1 vaccine. Its based on the spanish flu...i dont know what this might mean but i couldnt help but to scratch my head and wonder

 http://www.dddmag.com/News-Investigational-H1N1-VLP-Vaccine-041609.aspx
 
Investigational H1N1 VLP Vaccine Protects Against Influenza Strains
Drug Discovery & Development - April 16, 2009
Novavax, Inc. reported preclinical study results showing that an investigational H1N1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine based on the 1918 Spanish influenza strain protected against both the Spanish flu and a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA and Novavax under a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement.
Novavax scientists designed and produced a recombinant VLP vaccine candidate against the 1918 H1N1 influenza strain. Mice and ferrets were vaccinated with VLPs by one of two routes: either by standard intramuscular injection, or by administering a small drop of the VLP vaccine in the nose (intranasal immunization). All of the 1918 VLP-immunized animals were protected when exposed to a lethal dose of the 1918 influenza virus, regardless of the route by which the vaccine was administered. Remarkably, animals immunized by the intranasal route were also protected against a lethal dose of a contemporary, highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 virus strain, isolated from a fatal human case in 2004 (A/Vietnam/1203/2004 strain).
The H1N1 VLP vaccine candidate was made up of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix 1 (M1) proteins from 1918 Spanish influenza virus strains. These proteins, which were produced in insect cells, formed three-dimensional structures that mimic the 1918 pandemic influenza virus but without the genetic material needed for replication. The mechanism of action by which this H1N1 VLP vaccine candidate provided broad cross protection is under further study, but the scientists described preliminary evidence that antibody cross-reactivity between the HA and possibly NA proteins of the H1N1 and H5N1 influenza were important.
'Unlike other non-live influenza vaccines, the VLPs are uniquely positioned to stimulate immunity through multiple mechanisms,' said Dr. Penny Heaton, Chief Medical Officer at Novavax. 'First, they contain HA protein that is the same structure as the live virus, which may stimulate HA antibodies of several types that not only prevent the virus from attaching to cells but also prevent the virus from fusing with cells. Second, the VLPs contain NA which may stimulate production of antibody that prevents spread of the virus down the respiratory tract. Finally, the structure of the HA and NA proteins and the way in which they are embedded in lipids on the surface of the VLP may activate the innate immune system providing protection against both the H1N1 and H5N1 strains,' said Dr. Heaton.
Although cross protection against influenza strains of the same hemagglutinin or HA type has been achieved through the use of vaccines with adjuvants (e.g., cross-protection against H5N1 A/Vietnam and A/Indonesia strains), protection against strains with different HA types, as shown in this study, has not been reported. Cross-protection against different HA types is highly desirable for pandemic influenza vaccine candidates because it is not possible to predict the strain that may be responsible for the next pandemic with today’s technology. A broadly cross protective vaccine would be ideal for stockpiling in that it could be administered during the first wave of the pandemic while waiting for manufacture of vaccine specific to the pandemic strain.
Dr. Gale Smith, Vice President of Vaccine Development at Novavax, said, 'The discovery that a VLP-based influenza vaccine candidate created through cell-based recombinant technology has the potential to protect against diverse strains of influenza has significant implications for both pre-pandemic and pandemic preparedness. A broadly protective vaccine administered prior to and during the first wave of a pandemic could prevent widespread morbidity and mortality from a newly emerged pandemic influenza strain and allow time for the development of strain-specific vaccines.'
Release Date: April 14, 2009
Source: Novavax

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430111640.htm
 
 Im not a microbiologist but it all sounds kind of suspect to me

[xfahctor]

 I prefer mine slow smoked, over hickory preferabley, maybe a bit of applewood.......mmmm...pig roast.

[sociostudent]

I was reading this study done in canada earlier this year that Sociostudent turned me on to.  They gave the 1918 spanish flu to some pigs...here's an interesting note from the study:
 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Swine have been proposed as an intermediate host in the indirect transmission of
5 influenza A viruses from an avian reservoir to humans, based on the unique distribution in pigs
6 of 2-3 and 2-6 linked sialic acid moieties that are considered to be avian- and human-specific
7 receptors for influenza A viruses, respectively. The presence of the avian and human receptors in
8 the swine respiratory tract can enable the pigs to become infected with either avian or human
9 influenza A viruses, setting the stage for reassortant events between swine, avian, and human
10 viruses, or for adaptation of an avian virus to a mammalian receptor (20). Support for this
11 hypothesis can be found in the isolation of entirely avian or human viruses from swine, as well as
12 reassortant viruses that contain swine, human, and avian genes (2, 13, 22, 42, 43). Reports also
13 document interspecies transmission from pigs to people (21, 42). However, even though the 1957
14 and 1968 human pandemic viruses were human-avian reassortants, there is no evidence the
15 reassortment occurred in pigs. This classical theory was based on the contemporary knowledge of
16 receptor distribution in different host species, and it has been recently questioned, also in light of
17 proven direct transmission of avian influenza to humans (40).
Downloaded from jvi.asm.org by on May 4, 2009
 
Full study here:
http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/JVI.02399-08v1
 
THEN after thinking this sounded scary relevant i saw this about the new H1N1 vaccine. Its based on the spanish flu...i dont know what this might mean but i couldnt help but to scratch my head and wonder

 http://www.dddmag.com/News-Investigational-H1N1-VLP-Vaccine-041609.aspx
 
Investigational H1N1 VLP Vaccine Protects Against Influenza Strains
Drug Discovery & Development - April 16, 2009
Novavax, Inc. reported preclinical study results showing that an investigational H1N1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine based on the 1918 Spanish influenza strain protected against both the Spanish flu and a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA and Novavax under a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement.
Novavax scientists designed and produced a recombinant VLP vaccine candidate against the 1918 H1N1 influenza strain. Mice and ferrets were vaccinated with VLPs by one of two routes: either by standard intramuscular injection, or by administering a small drop of the VLP vaccine in the nose (intranasal immunization). All of the 1918 VLP-immunized animals were protected when exposed to a lethal dose of the 1918 influenza virus, regardless of the route by which the vaccine was administered. Remarkably, animals immunized by the intranasal route were also protected against a lethal dose of a contemporary, highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 virus strain, isolated from a fatal human case in 2004 (A/Vietnam/1203/2004 strain).
The H1N1 VLP vaccine candidate was made up of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix 1 (M1) proteins from 1918 Spanish influenza virus strains. These proteins, which were produced in insect cells, formed three-dimensional structures that mimic the 1918 pandemic influenza virus but without the genetic material needed for replication. The mechanism of action by which this H1N1 VLP vaccine candidate provided broad cross protection is under further study, but the scientists described preliminary evidence that antibody cross-reactivity between the HA and possibly NA proteins of the H1N1 and H5N1 influenza were important.
'Unlike other non-live influenza vaccines, the VLPs are uniquely positioned to stimulate immunity through multiple mechanisms,' said Dr. Penny Heaton, Chief Medical Officer at Novavax. 'First, they contain HA protein that is the same structure as the live virus, which may stimulate HA antibodies of several types that not only prevent the virus from attaching to cells but also prevent the virus from fusing with cells. Second, the VLPs contain NA which may stimulate production of antibody that prevents spread of the virus down the respiratory tract. Finally, the structure of the HA and NA proteins and the way in which they are embedded in lipids on the surface of the VLP may activate the innate immune system providing protection against both the H1N1 and H5N1 strains,' said Dr. Heaton.
Although cross protection against influenza strains of the same hemagglutinin or HA type has been achieved through the use of vaccines with adjuvants (e.g., cross-protection against H5N1 A/Vietnam and A/Indonesia strains), protection against strains with different HA types, as shown in this study, has not been reported. Cross-protection against different HA types is highly desirable for pandemic influenza vaccine candidates because it is not possible to predict the strain that may be responsible for the next pandemic with today’s technology. A broadly cross protective vaccine would be ideal for stockpiling in that it could be administered during the first wave of the pandemic while waiting for manufacture of vaccine specific to the pandemic strain.
Dr. Gale Smith, Vice President of Vaccine Development at Novavax, said, 'The discovery that a VLP-based influenza vaccine candidate created through cell-based recombinant technology has the potential to protect against diverse strains of influenza has significant implications for both pre-pandemic and pandemic preparedness. A broadly protective vaccine administered prior to and during the first wave of a pandemic could prevent widespread morbidity and mortality from a newly emerged pandemic influenza strain and allow time for the development of strain-specific vaccines.'
Release Date: April 14, 2009
Source: Novavax

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430111640.htm
 
 Im not a microbiologist but it all sounds kind of suspect to me

This one's the biggie for me:
Support for this
11 hypothesis can be found in the isolation of entirely avian or human viruses from swine, as well as
12 reassortant viruses that contain swine, human, and avian genes (2, 13, 22, 42, 43).

[trailhound]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430111640.htm

1918 Flu Resulted In Current Lineage Of H1N1 Swine Influenza Viruses
ScienceDaily (May 1, 2009) — In 1918 a human influenza virus known as the Spanish flu spread through the central United States while a swine respiratory disease occurred concurrently. A Kansas State University researcher has found that the virus causing the pandemic was able to infect and replicate in pigs, but did not kill them, unlike in other mammalian hosts like monkeys, mice and ferrets where the infection has been lethal.


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See also:
 
Juergen A. Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine, studied the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic with colleagues from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Their research supports the hypothesis that the 1918 pandemic influenza virus and the virus causing the swine flu were the same. Richt said the virus was able to infect and replicate in swine and cause mild respiratory disease. The 1918 virus spread through the pig population, adapted to the swine and resulted in the current lineage of the H1N1 swine influenza viruses. The researchers' study is published in the May 2009 Journal of Virology.

"This study emphasizes that an influenza virus, which is known to induce a lethal infection in ferrets and macaques, is not highly virulent in pigs, indicating a potential resistance of swine to highly virulent influenza viruses," Richt said. "It also suggests that pigs could have played a role in maintaining and spreading the 1918 human pandemic influenza virus."

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among the animals and can be transmitted to humans. It is a typical zoonotic agent. While swine flu was first recognized as a disease in 1918, there also were reports of the influenza occurring in the Midwest in 1930.

For the study, the researchers used the 1918 pandemic virus and a 1930 H1N1 influenza virus for experimental infections in swine. The 1930 virus was chosen as a virus because it is thought to be a descendent of the 1918 virus, Richt said.

The researchers did not find a significant difference in effects from the 1918 and 1930 viruses in infected pigs. This was surprising, since the 1918 virus killed more than 20 million people and was lethal to ferrets, mice and macaques. Another surprising finding from the study was the rapid antibody response in the animals infected with the 1918 virus, which is not typically reported for the swine influenza virus.

Richt said he plans to conduct a follow-up project that will study what makes a swine flu virus a pandemic flu virus.

The researchers conducted the study in the biosafety-level 4 laboratory and animal cubicle at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Canada.