A recent study has revealed that a single mutation in the H5N1 avian influenza virus, currently circulating in U.S. dairy cows, could enable easier transmission among humans. This finding raises concerns about a potential public health threat worldwide.
While the current strains of the cow H5N1 virus are not known to spread among people, infections have occurred in individuals exposed to infected wild birds, poultry, dairy cows, and other mammals.
Scientists at Scripps Research, a renowned American medical research facility, investigated how mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the H5N1 strain affect the virus’s ability to bind to human versus avian cell receptors. Hemagglutinin is the surface protein that allows the influenza virus to attach to host cells.
They discovered that a single mutation—specifically, a change from glutamine to leucine at residue 226 of the HA protein—was sufficient to shift the virus’s binding preference from avian to human cell receptors.
The study, published in the journal Science, underscores the importance of vigilant surveillance of the HPAI H5N1 virus for genetic changes that could increase its transmissibility among humans. Such mutations could have significant implications for global health, particularly in densely populated regions of Asia where close contact between humans and animals is common.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which funded the study, emphasized the need for continued monitoring. The findings serve as a crucial reminder of the ever-present risk of zoonotic diseases and the importance of global cooperation in preventing potential pandemics.
Reference(s):
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