Bird Flu Mutation Risk | The Scientist Magazine® - 0 views
www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35879/title/Bird-Flu-Mutation-Risk/
flu mutation science research knowledge
shared by grayton downing on 23 Oct 13
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some strains of both viruses are just one mutation away from getting a better grip on the cells in our upper airways. If wild viruses accrue those mutations, they may find it far easier to spread from infected to uninfected people, increasing the risk of a pandemic.
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“These viruses are rapidly evolving and our stockpiles of vaccine are largely based on outdated strains,” he said. “We hope that our discoveries will help us to stay ahead of the curve by ensuring that vaccines are stockpiled against strains that are closest to adapting to humans.”
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rather than focusing on these previously identified mutations, the team took a new approach. They modeled the way HA interacts with different glycans, and identified four structural features that bestow the protein with a preference for human receptors over bird ones.
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they analyzed the diversity of existing H5N1 strains and found that many wild viruses are already tantalizingly close to becoming potentially contagious among humans.
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we know very little about the actual receptors in human airways that are relevant for flu viruses.” Even the so-called “human” receptors can vary significantly, and it’s unclear which ones are found in different parts of the airways, or how common they are.
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identified should be tested in ferret experiments to see if they genuinely are more efficient at spreading between mammals. However, given the controversy surrounding the development of potentially contagious flu strains, Fouchier wonders “whether we would be allowed to empirically test this newly acquired knowledge in animal models.”