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Show OCTOBER :nMFSDAY, WORLD NEWS 12,2005 cientists race to develop flu vaccine them to step up their efforts to make a vaccine that would be effective against bird flu. Bird flu is different from and potentially far more dangerous than - the domestic flu virus that afflicts millions of Americans every year. Even though there are vaccines against domestic flu, it still causes about 36,000 deaths a year. There's no approved vaccine, so far, against the new, virulent strain of bird flu, -- WASHINGTON (KRT) ,ier a microscope it's only with ny ball covered 1)bs and bumps, hardly -- of its reputation as ,ss killer. But within its a harbors biological that can be dead-- i than a nuclear war. n II, it ichinery his fearsome creature is virus that causes bird flu. usually infects chickens, ; can ks and turkeys, but it so ump to humans. Under right conditions it could ,read like wildfire and kill e lions of human beings. Health authorities consid-- i another worldwide flu the three .ass infections that killed as siimated 50 million people the 20th century, to be ith inevitable and overdue. There is a storm brewing hat will test us all," World lealth Organization undemic, like , l Lee Jong-uoowarned late last month, lailure to take this threat k hirector-Genera- seriously and prepare appro-- ' -lately will have catastroph-ronsequences- ." President Bush summoned three vaccine to the White Friday and urged aders of louse man-ifacture- which was discovered in Hong Kong in 1997 and is now coursing throughout Asia. It already has killed at least 60 people, more than half of those it infected. This strain, known as H5N1, is considered so alarming because most humans have not been exposed to it - or to a vaccine against it - and hence have developed no immunity to it. Scientists, however, have learned a great deal about how the virus works. Its genes have been decoded and its inner mechanism laid bare. Researchers can observe the sneaky tactics it employs to evade the body's lav bird flu immune system, invade and destroy living cells. Like any virus, the bird flu variety consists of a small clump of RNA, a simpler version of DNA which carries the genetic instructions for all living cells. The RNA is surrounded by a coat of proteins - chains of molecules called ammo acids. The virus isn't technically alive. It can The major defense against flu is a vaccine, a modified form of the flu virus delivered by a shot in the arm or a nasal spray The vaccine prompts the body's immune system to produce swarms of protective molecules known as antibodies. The antibodies attach themselves to the HA or the NA protein, rendering them harmless. (c) 2005, Knight RidderTribune Information Services. DIXIE SUN Three students charged in burning of newspapers (KRT) Three Morehead State University students have been charged with allegedly burning about 7,000 copies of the student newspaper to halt the appearance of an article about an alleged sexual assault, according to the student paper's Web site, and a university news release. University police brought charges of third degree criminal mischief against: Danielle Brown, 22; Andrea Sharp, 22; and Jennie Williams, 20, all of Morehead. The Trail Blazer reported that university police were investigating a report of criminal mischief at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house after the copies of The Trail Blazer were reported as stolen. The newspapers were taken from 31 and 15 r l.umans Bird virus infects other animal reassortment Qualified n changes genes in animal, is passed to human dangerous f First ' human Animal virus infects Bird virus can be if passed mutated form can evade human 'mmune system infected ; human without changing its genes becomes study participants may have their wisdom teeth removed, at no charge, by an oral experienced surgeon. Study participants may receive financial compensation upon completion of this study. I Virus Virus study evaluating an investigational medication for postoperative pain. human without changing its genes Or human is infected by two different bird 01 animal viruses, and their genes mix m human u re you having wisdom teeth pain? SCIREX in Salt Lake City is looking for men and women to participate in a research Bird virus infects Human virus infects animal, mixes its genes with bird virus and ts passed back to human, Chicken, pig, Genetic to other humans IS For more information call: Virus changes in 856-265-89- human, can then be passed 00 to other humans Kki "ce US Centers for ase Control and 'Uton, national Institute of JV and iniectious Disease MICi. Helen Lee McComas, 3 Hulteng s WISDOM TEETH? Duck, other bird infected with flu virus animal without changing its genes s can turn u jutes to The Trail Blazer reported that an unknown caller phoned the paper's office on Sept. 22. The caller was upset about an article on an alleged sexual assault involving a Morehead State student on Sept. 18. "The caller said if The Trail Blazer did not retract the story, the papers wnuld be stolen and destroyed," the paper reported m a story by its editor, Ashley Sorrell Sorrell reported that Trail Blazer staff members "gathered evidence that the papers were burned at t he fraternity house." Morehead city police are still investigating the alleged sexual assault. (c) 2005, Lexington Herald-LeadeDistributed by Knight RidderTribune Information Services. sites. s Strains of influenza partly like the one that caused a pandemic n 1918 are found in water birds, and one of them could r Gate, or change its genes, and threaten humans again. Unis could take any of these - 3 OS Si 01 Other human u i - - I i i I j ; i l 4 i i i |