Researchers working at a lab
© AFP/POOL/File

OTTAWA (AFP) - Maria Merziotis, 17, took first prize in the 2008 Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge, and will now go on to compete at the international BioGENEius Challenge in San Diego June 16-18.

Meanwhile, Health Canada is testing her research, and as a diagnostic tool it has already shown "encouraging results," said the government agency in a statement.

Flu viruses cause illness by sticking to sialic acid (sialyllactose) present on the surface of human cells, and attacking the cells.

Merziotis synthesized a free floating form of sialic acid that acts as an alternative receptor for the virus.

She said it could be used "to detect what strain of influenza is responsible for a specific infection" or even "interfere with the infection process by administering the floating sialyllactose through injection, nasal spray or to the lungs with a pump."

"The flu virus would attach to the artificial receptor rather than the human cell and infection would be prevented," Merziotis said.

©AFP