3:00 Dose of Fluology: Who is This Tamiflu?

Who is This Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is an antiviral medication that was designed for use on flu infections.  It doesn't work universally against all viral infections, and thus can only be used very specifically.  Remember the N spikes discussed at 2:00?  Tamiflu binds onto them and prevents them from doing their job.  What is their job?  See below!

Look at Part E of that figure, or the act of newly formed flu viruses exiting an infected cell.  In order to "free" themselves, they need a way of cutting their lines so that they can float away and infect the next cell.  The "N spikes" (neuraminidase, if you prefer) is how they accomplish this.  If Tamiflu is present, it prevents the cutting, and the new virus cannot infect the next cell.  It doesn't "kill" the viruses, but if prevents them from spreading further.  In this way, if stops flu disease in its tracks, and allows the immune system to play catch-up and remove the existing viruses.

The bad news here is that Tamiflu resistance can develop, and it is.  This is a futuristic problem we should keep an eye on!

Disclaimer: I only used Tamiflu because it has greater name recognition.  Relenza works very much the same way.