WWW.NATURE.COM/NATURE
This press release is copyright Nature.
VOL.444 NO.7117 DATED 16 NOVEMBER 2006
Avian Flu: Mutations mark pandemic potential? (pp 378-382)
Researchers have discovered two mutations in the H5N1 avian influenza virus that enable it to recognise human receptor proteins. The amino acid changes, reported online this week in Nature, might prove useful molecular markers for assessing the pandemic potential of H5N1 samples.
To replicate efficiently in humans and acquire the potential to cause a pandemic, it’s thought that bird influenza viruses must acquire the ability to recognize human host cell receptors. Yoshihiro Kawaoka and colleagues looked for mutations in a protein called haemagglutinin that sits on the surface of the H5N1 virus and binds with host receptor proteins. They found two separate mutations in the haemagglutinin of H5N1 viruses known to recognize avian receptors that enabled these viruses to recognize human receptors.
CONTACT
Yoshihiro Kawaoka (Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan)
Tel: +81 3 5449 5310: E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
PRESS CONTACTS…
For North America and Canada
Katie McGoldrick, Nature Washington
Tel: +1 202 737 2355; E-mail: [email protected]
From Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and Taiwan
Itsumi Kitahara, Nature Tokyo
Tel: +81 3 3267 8751; E-mail: [email protected]
For the UK/Europe/other countries not listed above
Helen Jamison, Nature London
Tel: +44 20 7843 4658; E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
About Nature Publishing Group
Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a division of Macmillan Publishers Ltd, dedicated to serving the academic, professional scientific and medical communities. NPG's flagship title, Nature, was first published in 1869. Other publications include Nature research journals, Nature Reviews, Nature Clinical Practice and a range of prestigious academic journals including society-owned publications. NPG also provides news content through [email protected] and scientific career information through Naturejobs.
NPG is a global company with headquarters in London and offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Tokyo, Paris, Munich, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Delhi, Mexico City and Basingstoke. For more information, please go to <www.nature.com>.