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JOSÉ ANTONIO CABEZAS FERNÁNDEZ DEL CAMPO AN. R. ACAD. NAC. FARM.

nas, tales como algunas estatinas u otros compuestos de acción e
índole varias, cuyo reducido coste —por pertenecer al grupo de los
«genéricos»— constituye un aliciente adicional.

Palabras clave: Gripe aviar; Influenza aviar; Patogenicidad; Cito-
cinas; Estatinas; Gripe 1918-19; Vacunas anti-gripe aviar.

ABSTRACT

Avian influenza virus: new features related to its
pathogenicity and strategies for fighting against it

Since Taubenberger’s team recreated each of the genes of in-
fluenza virus that caused the terrible pandemic of 1918-19 using the
technique called reverse genetics and checked the infectious capacity
of the newborn virus, it seems that its high pathogenicity may be
due to disregulation of the innate immune mechanisms normally
performed by the cytokines of host cell.

Furthermore, the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza, which also
causes a similar dysfunction, has higher pathogenicity than that of
1918-19 influenza virus.

Assays to prevent the mild, moderate or severe risks of an even-
tual future pandemic affecting humans caused by the H5N1 subtype
are now being carried out by preparing new vaccines and neurami-
nidase (= sialidase) inhibitors such as oseltamivir and zanamivir, as
well as other agents that block the function of several components
of the virus.

Recently, has been debated whether it would be convenient to use
modulators of the immune system, such as statins, against the secon-
dary effects of the viral infection caused by the disregulation mecha-
nisms of cytokines, to reinforce the above therapeutic measures. The
low cost of statins offers additional justification for their use.

Key words: Avian flu; Avian influenza virus; Pathogenicity; Cyto-
kines; Statins; 1918-1919 influenza pandemic; «Spanish flu»; Vacci-
nes against avian flu.

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