Research

Using the body’s own natural chemicals, UTHSCT researcher developing new way to protect against the flu

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Now that the World Health Organization has officially declared an H1N1, or swine, flu pandemic – a worldwide epidemic – there’s a real need for an effective vaccine against this new strain of influenza.

But it can take up to six months to develop such a vaccine, allowing the pandemic to spread unchecked during that time.

Amir Shams, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, is investigating another way to outwit the flu: by boosting the body’s own immune system, enabling it to fight off the virus.

For the past two years, Dr. Shams and his team have been studying how natural chemicals produced by the body strengthen the innate immune response and prevent infection. The innate immune response is the body’s front-line defense.

The natural chemicals work by temporarily stimulating the immune response. Thus, increasing the levels of these chemicals – called immunomodulators – in the lungs enables the body to fend off the flu virus.

Dr. Shams and his team already have successfully protected mice from contracting the flu, even though the mice were exposed to very high levels of the influenza virus.

By understanding how these natural chemicals work, Dr. Shams and his team hope to manipulate them to boost the body’s immunity.

Other UTHSCT scientists involved in influenza research are:

  • UTHSCT Vice President for Research Steven Idell, MD, Ph.D.; Sreerama Shetty, Ph.D., professor of medicine; and V.J. Boggaram, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology, who are investigating the relationship between influenza and lung injury.
  • Hong-Long “James” Ji, MD, associate professor of biochemistry, who is studying how fluid is cleared from the air sacs in the lungs after influenza infection, and how it can be cleared faster.
  • Pierre Neuenschwander, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry, who is examining the relationship between influenza and blood clotting.

To support Dr. Shams and other dedicated UTHSCT scientists who conduct vital and life-changing research such as this every day, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (903) 877-5135 and join UTHSCT’s Research Council.