1. Interferon
By: Ana Ralea

2. Initial Questions How does interferon actually stop viral replication?
What causes the trigger to raise the protective defenses of the immune system and release interferon?
Are there any drugs that help boost the production of interferon?
Do they interfere with the production of cancerous tumor cells?
Do plants produce interferon?

3. Type of Molecule
Interferon is part of a large class of proteins called cytokines. Within that, it’s part of a group of signalling proteins.

4. Structure
There are two types of interferon: Type I-Alpha and Beta, and Type II- Gamma
The division between the two types is based on the types of cells that produce the protein, and the functional characteristics of the protein.
Type I interferon is made up of amino and carboxyl groups forming and tertiary and quaternary stage protein, with disulfide bonds giving it it’s shape.

5. Function
The function of interferon is to interfere with viral replication.
It is produced by the body’ cells as a defense response. Interferon is an important modulator of the immune response.
It works by stimulating the infected cells and those nearby to produce proteins that prevent the virus from replicating

6. Effect on the body
Grown in a lab, Interferon could prevent viral infection and suppress the growth of cancer cells, many had high hopes it would be used to treat a wide variety of diseases. However, the drug is not often used due to it’s side effects: Flu-like symptoms such as fever and fatigue, and a decrease in production of bone marrow.

7. Uses for the drug
Despite it’s side effects, interferon is still used to treat some diseases.
Alpha interferon is used to treat: Hairy Cell Leukemia, Kaposi Sarcoma, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Genital Warts
Beta interferon is used to treat: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Gamma interferon is used to treat: Chronic Granulomatous Disease

8. Global Significance in Public Health
Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) are immunological tests used to diagnose Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB).
A study in San Francisco from 2005 to 2008 used Quantiferon (IGRA’s) to test kids exposed to active cases of TB instead of using the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). The results showed no active cases of TB in any of the children.
Chronic Hepatitis C patients in Japan are being treated with Interferon (IFN) therapy. The treatment consists of peginterferon-α and ribovirin.
There was a 3 year study published in 2007 about the early use of interferon beta-1b to prevent the development of confirmed disability in MS patients.

9. How does it apply to Biology 12?
It is a protein whose function is acting as an antibody. Immune response is one of the six protein functions. It’s function is also to communicate with other cells when a virus is present. Communication is another one of the six protein functions.

10. Final Questions What causes the side effects of interferon?
Why are different types of interferon used to treat different diseases?
How do the different types of interferon act differently in the body?
Do different proteins produce the different types in interferon?
How is interferon reproduced in a lab setting?
Add slide - how it applies to bio 12
References
Answer some of the questions on a slide

11. Work Cited
The BENEFIT Study Group. "Effect of Early versus Delayed Interferon Beta-1b Treatment on Disability after a First Clinical Event Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis: A 3-year Follow-up Analysis of the BENEFIT Study." The Lancet 370 (n.d.): Web.
Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Interferon." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 07 Aug Web. 26 Sept
Grinsdale, J. A., S. Islam, O. C. Tran, C. S. Ho, L. M. Kawamura, and J. M. Higashi. Interferon-Gamma Release Assays and Pediatric Public Health Tuberculosis Screening. Rep. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Dec Web. 26 Sept
"Interferon Gamma Release Assay Testing Process: For Public Health/Community Health Nurses in BC." BC Centre For Disease Control. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Interferon." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Sept
Li, Junzhi, and R. Michael Roberts. Structure-Function Relationships in the Interferon-τ (IFN-τ). Publication. Vol N.p.: Journal of Biological Chemistry, Print.
Masaki, Naohiko, Yoko Yamagiwa, Takuro Shimbo, Kazumoto Murata, Masaaki Korenaga, Tatsuya Kanto, and Masashi Misokami. Regional Disparities in Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C in Japan: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study. Rep. N.p.: BioMed Central, Print.