Introduction to the project

The Influenza Grid-Computing Project

In an evolution class at Rockhurst University we are required to do a learning service project.  This project had to involve contributing to a current grid-computing project. We chose to contribute to the Influenza Antiviral Drug Search. This grid-computing project is searching for new antiviral drugs for influenza that will stop the spread of new strains as well as strains that are currently showing drug resistance to antiviral drugs. 

In order to participate in this grid computing project please go to the following link: 

http://www.volunteerathome.com/active-projects/16-world-community-grid.html

What is influenza and why would new antiviral drugs be beneficial? 

Influenza is a single stranded RNA virus and is often referred to as the flu.  There are three major types of influenza which are type a,b, and c. Type a and b infects humans and animals.  Type c infects only animals. Each type contain many different strains that tend to change from year to year.  Influenza can be transmitted by direct contact with infected individuals, contact with contaminated objects and inhalation of respiratory droplets.  A few symptoms that typically occur once infected with influenza are fever, headache, shaking chills,cough, and shore throat. There are currently antiviral drugs that may reduce influenza symptoms that include Relenza, Tamiflu, and Amantadine Hydrochloride.  However, as was already stated some strains of influenza have become resistant to these antiviral drugs. This is one way in which new antiviral drugs would be beneficial in treating influenza. Another way that new antiviral drugs would be beneficial is by stopping the spread of new strains of influenza. 

To learn more about influenza and antiviral drugs please visit the following links provided:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/whatyoushould.htm

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/factsheets/Influenza.htm

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/tc/influenza-topic-overview

What is grid-computing? 

Grid computing is a form of networking and involves resources from many computers in a network being used at the same time to address a single problem or task.  In grid computing unused processing cycles of all computers in a network are used to solve problems too intense for any single computer.  The problems that are examined are usually of a scientific or technical nature.  Also the problems examined require a great number of computer processing cycles or access to large amounts of data. Several thousand computers can be involved in a grid computing project.  The computers involved in a grid computing project create what can be thought of as a virtual supercomputer. Different grid computing techniques can be used to create different types of grids. For example an equipment grid will use a grid to control a piece of equipment while a data grid will manage large amounts of information that many users share accesses to. 

To learn more about grid-computing please visit the following links provided: 
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/grid-computing.htm
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/grid_computing.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-grid-computing.htm
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/grid-computing

TEM of negatively stained influenza virions.  Pictured obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EM_of_influenza_virus.jpg

Structure of the influenza virus.  Picture obtained from: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/viruses/images/influenzafigure1.jpg