The Threat of H5N1 Bird Flu: How it Acquired New Genes and Increased Virulence
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, another deadly disease has been lurking in the background – the H5N1 bird flu. The virus responsible for the illness has been around for over two decades and has caused outbreaks in different parts of the world. Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been tracking the new strains of the virus and have made startling discoveries about how the virus has evolved and increased in virulence.
Genetic Tracking of the Spread of H5N1 Bird Flu Virus
In a recent study published in nature communications, the scientists explained how the H5N1 bird flu virus acquired new genes and increased virulence as it spread westward. The researchers tracked the spread of the virus across the continent and its establishment in wild waterfowl populations to understand what makes it so different. They discovered that the virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, which is a notable departure from previous related virus strains.
The researchers genetically tracked the spread of the virus across the continent and its establishment in wild waterfowl populations to understand what makes it so different.
The Spread of H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Wild Birds and Mammals
The scientists found that the avian virus has spread to other species besides chickens. This unprecedented spread to other species of birds and mammals in the US put humans and other mammals at a higher exposure risk than previously experienced in North America. While newer strains of this H5N1 flu show a greater ability to cause disease in mammals than earlier viruses, scientists have found it to be of low risk to humans. This is because the virus appears to be well adapted for transmission between birds and not between mammals.
Although the risk of spreading the infection is low, research suggests that humans should be careful when interacting with wildlife. While someone would have to work very hard to get infected with this virus, if a person does get infected, there is a real chance of getting a serious illness. Thus people should be careful and remember that some of the wild animals out there potentially harbor these highly pathogenic viruses.
Genetic Change Enhances Spread and Gravity
In the past, similar strains of influenza viruses have not caused equally severe illness, nor have they spread widely in wild bird populations. Since the new strains have caused so much more damage, the scientists looked for what was different. They identified the direct ancestor of the current strains, which spread from Europe to the Americas after obtaining a different version of the viral protein, neuraminidase. This new protein increased the ability of the virus to be transmitted between birds. He then reached the east coast of Canada and traveled to the United States.
As the researchers studied the virus further, they identified which viruses, other than those above, caused the current outbreaks. They found that after reaching North America, the virus changed rapidly again to become more virulent. It mixed with flu viruses in wild North American birds, swapping several genes. This gene rearrangement had two effects. One, the virus seemed to further adapt to the bird population, infecting many different types of birds, including atypical hosts, such as vultures and eagles, which do not normally get the flu. Second, the virus gained its serious disease-causing properties.
Conclusion
H5N1 bird flu virus has already caused outbreaks and deaths worldwide, and the threat it poses to humans and other mammals cannot be overemphasized. Through the groundbreaking research of scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, we now understand how this virus has evolved and spread widely in different species, providing us with a better chance of finding ways to contain its spread.
The gathering of epidemiological, genetic, and ecological data continues to allow researchers to track and understand the threat, its evolution, spread and the potential to cause severe illness and epidemics. While the current risk to the public from H5N1 virus remains low, we must all remain vigilant as this situation is continually changing. As we continue to learn more about H5N1, it is vital to remember that we are not helpless against it but have vaccines and treatments that can minimize its impact and contain its spread.
Additional Piece:
Are We Underestimating the Risk and Severity of Bird Flu?
The H5N1 bird flu virus has been a significant concern among scientists due to its potential to cause severe illness among humans. While recent research indicates that the H5N1 bird flu virus may be of low risk to humans for now, there is a possibility that its risk and severity might be underestimated.
There are several reasons why experts are concerned about H5N1 bird flu. First, the virus has evolved and spread widely, infecting different species of birds and mammals, which increases the overall potential for spillover events. The ease by which the virus can infect new hosts raises concerns that it could more easily cross over and cause devastating disease outbreaks in humans.
Secondly, as seen in the recent studies, the virus has evolved and acquired new genes that give it an increased virulence. Furthermore, it has adapted well to the bird population, infecting many different bird types, including atypical hosts, such as vultures and eagles, which do not normally get the flu.
Thirdly, while the risk of human infection is currently low, there is still a substantial risk, especially for people who interact with wildlife. The transmission of the virus from birds to humans still remains zoonotic, which means people can catch it from birds, and this can result in severe illness and death.
In conclusion, while the current risk of H5N1 bird flu to human health is low, we should not underestimate its potential severity and potential to cause widespread illness in humans. We must continue to monitor the spread of the virus closely and take appropriate safety measures to limit the exposure of humans and other mammals to the virus. By identifying new strains of the virus and understanding its evolution, we can take proactive measures to keep the public safe from the potential risk of future virulent outbreaks.
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Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovered how the current H5N1 epizootic avian influenza (bird flu) virus acquired new genes and increased virulence as it spread westward. The researchers showed that the avian virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, a notable departure from previous related virus strains. The researchers genetically tracked the spread of the virus across the continent and its establishment in wild waterfowl populations to understand what makes it so different. The study was recently published in nature communications.
“We haven’t seen a virus like this,” said corresponding author Richard Webby, Ph.D., St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases. “In 24 years of tracking this particular lineage of H5N1 flu, we haven’t seen this ability to cause disease but also be maintained in these wild bird populations.”
When the scientists tested the new strains of bird flu for their ability to cause disease in mammals by infecting a ferret model, they found an unexpectedly high amount of pathogenicity.
“Some of these are really nasty viruses,” Webby said. “There is a large amount of the virus in the brain of infected animals. That is the hallmark of what we saw with these flu strains: increased pathogenicity associated with a high virus load in the brain. This is not the first time we have seen H5 viruses in the brain, but these are probably some of the most virulent that we’ve seen during the 24 years of tracking these viruses.”
Previous influenza viruses that caused severe illness in North America “depleted” their main bird host populations, and outbreaks ended quickly. This current strain was detected at high levels in diseased chickens, but has spread to other species.
“This is not just a chicken virus now,” Webby said. “It’s also infecting other species of birds and mammals in the US. It’s a higher exposure risk for humans and other mammals than we’ve had in North America. We’ve never really been exposed to this level of circulating these highly pathogenic influenza viruses. .”
Low risk to humans (for now)
While newer strains of this H5N1 flu show a greater ability to cause disease in mammals than earlier viruses, scientists have found it to be of low risk to humans. This is because the virus appears to be well adapted for transmission between birds and not between mammals.
“Overall, their risk to humans remains low,” Webby said. “But that risk appears to be changing, and these viruses are doing things we haven’t seen H5s do before. They’ve entered the continent’s wild bird population, regrouped, and persisted over time.” Now there are many different types out there, and they are very unpleasant.”
Although the risk of spreading the infection is low, research suggests that humans should be careful when interacting with wildlife.
“Someone would have to work very hard to get infected with this virus. But if you do get infected, there is a real chance of getting serious illness,” Webby said. “People just need to be careful and remember that some of the wild animals out there potentially harbor these highly pathogenic viruses.”
Genetic change enhances spread and gravity
In the past, similar strains of influenza viruses have not caused equally severe illness, nor have they spread widely in wild bird populations. Since the new strains have caused so much more damage, the scientists looked for what was different. The group identified the direct ancestor of the current strains, which spread from Europe to the Americas after obtaining a different version of the viral protein, neuraminidase. This new protein increased the ability of the virus to be transmitted between birds. He then reached the east coast of Canada and traveled to the United States.
As the researchers studied the virus further, they identified which viruses, other than those above, caused the current outbreaks. They found that after reaching North America, the virus changed rapidly again to become more virulent. It mixed with flu viruses in wild North American birds, swapping several genes. This gene rearrangement had two effects. One, the virus seemed to further adapt to the bird population, infecting many different types of birds. This included atypical hosts, such as vultures and eagles, which do not normally get the flu. Second, the virus gained its serious disease-causing properties.
“What was surprising was that only a few redistribution events changed the ability of these viruses to cause disease in our models,” Webby said. “And those events spawned many different genotypes from that mixture. Then those viruses spread and have now become established in the North American wild bird population.”
Webby’s group and others continue to monitor the ongoing global bird flu pandemic to assess its ever-evolving risk to both humans and birds.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230530203014.htm
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