A single Mutation could bring Bird Flu a critical Step closer to a New Pandemic.
With the H5N1 bird flu virus spreading quickly across animals in the US, experts are on high alert for signs of human-to-human transmission. Such a jump could become far easier with just a single mutation, according to new research.
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2024/20241205-wilson-paulson-h5n1.html
#birdflu #h5n1 #pandemic #nature #healthcare #media #science #tech #health #engineering #news
![[ImageSource: Scripps Research]
<Receptor binding site of the A/Texas/37/2024 hemagglutinin Leu226 mutant (yellow) in complex with the human receptor analog LSTc (cyan).>
While several of these morphing mutations are usually needed to put humans in danger from avian influenza, this time the transformation process could be quicker, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in California found.
"The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors," says infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, first author of the new study.
The researchers also investigated the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain of the virus found in recent human infections, finding that a single amino acid mutation in a key protein would be enough to switch the virus target from avian-type receptors to human-type receptors.](https://friendica-leipzig.de/photo/preview/600/348799 "[ImageSource: Scripps Research]
<Receptor binding site of the A/Texas/37/2024 hemagglutinin Leu226 mutant (yellow) in complex with the human receptor analog LSTc (cyan).>
While several of these morphing mutations are usually needed to put humans in danger from avian influenza, this time the transformation process could be quicker, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in California found.
\"The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors,\" says infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, first author of the new study.
The researchers also investigated the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain of the virus found in recent human infections, finding that a single amino acid mutation in a key protein would be enough to switch the virus target from avian-type receptors to human-type receptors.")
With the H5N1 bird flu virus spreading quickly across animals in the US, experts are on high alert for signs of human-to-human transmission. Such a jump could become far easier with just a single mutation, according to new research.
https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2024/20241205-wilson-paulson-h5n1.html
#birdflu #h5n1 #pandemic #nature #healthcare #media #science #tech #health #engineering #news
![[ImageSource: Scripps Research]
<Receptor binding site of the A/Texas/37/2024 hemagglutinin Leu226 mutant (yellow) in complex with the human receptor analog LSTc (cyan).>
While several of these morphing mutations are usually needed to put humans in danger from avian influenza, this time the transformation process could be quicker, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in California found.
"The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors," says infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, first author of the new study.
The researchers also investigated the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain of the virus found in recent human infections, finding that a single amino acid mutation in a key protein would be enough to switch the virus target from avian-type receptors to human-type receptors.](https://nerdculture.de/system/media_attachments/files/113/634/529/477/435/129/original/f23ed7ee325151fd.png "[ImageSource: Scripps Research]
<Receptor binding site of the A/Texas/37/2024 hemagglutinin Leu226 mutant (yellow) in complex with the human receptor analog LSTc (cyan).>
While several of these morphing mutations are usually needed to put humans in danger from avian influenza, this time the transformation process could be quicker, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in California found.
\"The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors,\" says infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, first author of the new study.
The researchers also investigated the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain of the virus found in recent human infections, finding that a single amino acid mutation in a key protein would be enough to switch the virus target from avian-type receptors to human-type receptors.")
