H5N1 Getting more human polymorphisms

According to the "Drudge Report" H5N1 has been acquiring more human genetic information which would allow for more efficient transmission...


Bird Flu Mutation of Concern
Wed Jan 11 2006 22:14:29 ET

Preliminary tests show that the strain of bird flu virus that has hit at least 15 people in Turkey has evolved in a way that could make it somewhat more hazardous to human beings, the WASHINGTON POST is reporting on Thursday.

The analysis, based on the sequencing of one of the virus's genes, suggests that at least some of the H5N1 bird flu virus here carries a change in one of its proteins, according to Michael Perdue of the World Health Organization. That protein is what lets the virus attach to cells and penetrate them.

``It's a little concerning because the virus is still trying new things in its evolution,'' said Perdue, who is overseeing the agency's response to the Turkish outbreak from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Influenza experts are studying the apparent change to determine its significance, Perdue said. A spokesman for Britain's Medical Research Council, which is involved in the research, said it would take a few days to confirm the preliminary findings. End item.

www.drudgereport.com...




It's been noted that H5N1 in Turkey and China both have the human E627K sequence already. This new addition might allow H5N1 to bind to ALL mammalian cells...that’s bad because now any mammal (not just humans and swine) may be the "mixing vessel" for H5N1 and another influenza with the nucleotide sequence to make the S227N polymorphism in HA that allows for efficient H2H transmission.




[edit on 11-1-2006 by gman55]

From the WHO Turkey update #4...

Snip...Virus from one of the patients shows mutations at the receptor-binding site. One of the mutations has been seen previously in viruses isolated from a small outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003 (two cases, one of which was fatal) and from the 2005 outbreak in Viet Nam. Research has indicated that the Hong Kong 2003 viruses bind preferentially to human cell receptors more so than to avian cell receptors. Researchers at the Mill Hill laboratory anticipate that the Turkish virus will also have this characteristic.
End item

This is troubling.

Geeze this is getting freaky......I just wish our gov't would be up front and honest with us, I believe there's alot more to this story but there keeping things quiet and only telling us a few things at a time before the bomb is dropped.