Virus becomes highly pathogenic through continued circulation and gene swapping

摘要

Two researchers recently revealed that their study of the genetic makeup of H5N1subtypes collected since 1997 traces the evolution of the virus into a dangerous pathogen through a series of reassortment events, reports CONNY PEREIRA. The avian influenza (AI) virus has over the past seven years, become highly pathogenic through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses. Reassortment is the swapping of genes when two or more viruses infect the same animal. The AI virus has struck three times in Asia over the past seven years causing widespread losses to farmers and the loss of human lives as well.