A recent study by researchers from the Scripps Research Institute in California has found that a single mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus could allow it to infect humans more easily. The fatality rate of H5N1 is 50 percent in humans, making animal infections crucially important for controlling its spread.
According to infectious disease scientist Ting-Hui Lin, one amino acid mutation, labeled Q226L, could enable the virus to recognize human-type receptors on host cells, allowing it to attach and infect more efficiently. Biochemist James Paulson notes that this mutation would give the virus a foothold on human cells it didn’t have before.
The study’s findings emphasize the need for close monitoring of H5N1 and tracking of new strains. Researchers believe that if the virus can latch onto specific receptors in our airways, person-to-person transmission via aerosols could occur easily through talking or sneezing.
While this mutation is a concern, it does not guarantee human-to-human transmission. Further research is necessary to understand how a human strain might spread and its stability in human hosts. Tracking genetic changes will give scientists an edge in preparing for signs of increased transmissibility, says biologist Ian Wilson.
The discovery highlights the importance of continuing to track H5N1 and understanding mutations that could lead to transmission between humans.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-single-mutation-could-bring-bird-flu-a-critical-step-closer-to-a-new-pandemic