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Researchers identify mutations necessary for pandemic
Researchers have compared bird flu viruses infecting
birds with those infecting humans, identifying key genetic changes required
before the virus can become a pandemic strain.
The research, reported in the November 16 issue of the journal
Nature,
illustrates the genetic changes required for the H5N1
avian
influenza virus to adapt to easily recognise the receptors that are the
gateway to human cells.
"We identified two changes that are important," says Yoshihiro Kawaoka, the
senior author of the Nature paper and a virologist at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Veterinary Medicine. "Both changes are needed for the H5N1 virus to
recognise human receptors."
The new report provides a molecular blueprint for the genetic changes
required to transform a virus that only infects birds to a virus capable of
easily recognising human receptors.
Receptors are molecules on the surface of cells that permit the virus to
dock with the cell and commandeer it to initiate a cascade of infection. By
knowing what genetic changes are required for the virus to easily infect human
cells, it may be possible to detect the emergence of pandemic strains earlier,
providing public health officials and vaccine manufacturers with precious time
to prepare for a global outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza.
The researchers say that, while the virus has changed since it was first
discovered, there are still mutations that are necessary before avian flu
viruses can easily recognise the topography of human cells.
More mutations will be required for the virus to fully adapt to humans, but
it is not known how many mutations are needed for such a change, according to
Kawaoka, who also holds an appointment at the
University of
Tokyo.
Editor WorldPoultry
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