Phosphoantigens, commonly used for treating osteoporosis, were found capable of combating flu- viruses by strengthening human immunity, according to a study done by the University of Hong Kong which made the results public on Friday.

A research team from the university's medical school, for the first time, discovered that a type of cells from human immune system can effectively kill host macrophages infected by avian flu H5N1 and H9N2, and human flu H1N1 viruses after being activated by phosphoantigens.

The viruses, therefore, were unable to reproduce and their number would then drop dramatically, said Lau Yu-lung, head of the university's Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, adding that the approach was theoretically capable of killing influenza A/H1N1 virus.

Since the attacking targets of the brand new flu-treating method were the host macrophages rather than the flu-viruses themselves, problems concerning anit-drugs and mutation of virus were unlikely to develop, Lau said.

Lau expressed the hope that clinical tests of the new treatment could be conducted in the coming two to three years.

The research result has been published in Journal of Infectious Diseases.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)