Experts from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (USA) have recently completed the first major study on the genomes of avian influenza viruses. This data repository will aid scientists in tracking the evolution of avian influenza virus genes and understanding their mechanisms of coordination in causing disease.
The research findings may also lead to new insights regarding H5N1, a virus that is currently infecting humans in Asia and Eastern Europe.
The study has provided 169 complete genomes of avian influenza viruses, including the H5 strain.
Preliminary analysis of this data has enabled scientists to discover new forms of avian influenza virus genes, observe how they evolve over time, and identify genes that co-evolve together.
St. Jude Hospital also found that avian influenza viruses possess a characteristic that human influenza viruses lack. This feature may make them more dangerous when infecting human cells.
According to Dr. Clayton Naeve, Director of the Hartwell Center at St. Jude, despite being a significant threat to human health, there is very limited information about the complete genomes of avian influenza viruses. The results of this research could help us understand how to control avian influenza viruses that pose a threat to humans in the future.
Minh Sơn (According to Science Today)
