Spread Factor

Spreading factor (syn.: Duran-Reynals factor, Reynals factor, spreading factor) is a protein that plays an important role in the process of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from an existing vascular network). Discovered in 1971 by French scientists F. Durand and J. Reynals.

The spreading factor promotes the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, stimulating their growth through the basement membrane and the formation of capillary-like structures. It plays a key role in physiological and pathological angiogenesis.

An increased level of the proliferation factor is observed in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, etc. Inhibitors of this factor are considered as potential antitumor drugs that can suppress the formation of new vessels that feed cancer cells.

Spread factor is a variable in medicine and biology that measures the rate of transmission of an infection from an infected person to healthy people. The higher the spread factor value, the faster the infection spreads in the population. This factor is important for assessing the risk of disease outbreaks and planning infection control measures.

The concept of a spreading factor was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century by the English bacteriologist Arthur Tomine in his theory of epidemics. He determined that the rate of spread of infection depends on two factors: the rate of spread of microorganisms and the degree of susceptibility of the population. The first factor is called the rate of reproduction of microorganisms, and the second is the susceptibility of the population. The rate at which microorganisms multiply depends on several factors, such as the virulence of the bacteria (ability to infect the body), their concentration, and the degree of contact between carriers and susceptible people.

However, apart from these two main factors, various other factors influence the rate at which infections spread. For example, nutritional factor (eg poverty), socioeconomic status