H5N1 bird flu mutations reveal potential vaccine against new strains

New study delves into genetics of H5N1 bird flu, offering insight into a vaccine against new strains, such as H7N9 in China, for future pandemics. Since the latest reports of the new bird flu strain, H7N9, have brought the new infection total in China to 21, out of which 6 have already died, a recent study offers clues to the genetics of the more familiar H5N1 bird flu virus and how it could enable researchers to develop a vaccine against new strains. “Knowing why bird flu struggles to replicate in the nose and understanding the genetic mutations that would enable it to happen are vital for monitoring viruses circulating in birds and preparing for an outbreak in humans,” said Wendy Barclay, lead author and professor in the department of medicine at Imperial College London. The Avian Influenza A viruses such as H5N1 generally do not infect humans, according to the Centers for Disease...