The group of scientists of the USA and the Great Britain has found out, that fibers of family IFITM protect cells of a human body from a becoming infected flu viruses.

Successfully to develop, to a flu virus some fibers developed by a cell-owner, as is known, are necessary. Authors have aimed to define concrete names of such proteins and have made scale experiment in which by means of small interfering RNA the expression of various genes (so choked, entering of corresponding fibers) in cultivated cells was blocked. As a result biologists managed to identify more than 120 genes which expression promoted a becoming infected of cells.

At processing of results researchers have paid attention to proteins IFITM1, IFITM2 and IFITM3 which, appear, gave antiviral effect. «In the absence of IFITM3 the virus bred at 5-10 time faster», - the participant of Stephen Elledge work from Howard Hughes's Medical institute speaks. This result has been confirmed in experiences with other strains of a virus and various types of cells of the mouse and the person.

Then authors it is artificial have enlarged development IFITM3 (its action in experiments was shown most brightly) in cells - and have found out, that reproduction of virus H1N1 has completely stopped. Action of fibers of family IFITM as scientists have found out, extends and on some other viruses into which number enter, for example, viruses of an encephalitis of the Western Nile and a Dengue fever.

The mechanism of functioning of proteins remains is unknown. Under the assumption of researchers, parts of molecules of these fibers act from a membrane in intercellular space that allows them to control moving of viruses and other particles getting into a cell through a membrane. Such intervention in movement of molecules can negatively affect processes of the cellular alarm system; it, possibly, also low natural level of development of fibers IFITM speaks.
The full version of the report of researchers will be published in magazine Cell.