H5N1 Infection Of Mammals Enabled By Mutation Altering Stability Of Surface Molecule In Acid

A single mutation in the H5N1 avian influenza virus that affects the pH at which the hemagglutinin surface protein is activated simultaneously reduces its capacity to infect ducks and enhances its capacity to grow in mice according to research published ahead of print in the Journal of Virology. "Knowing the factors and markers that govern the efficient growth of a virus in one host species, tissue, or cell culture versus another is of fundamental importance in viral infectious disease," says Charles J. Russell of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, an author on the study...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Bird Flu / Avian Flu Source Type: news