Distinct Host Tropism Protein Signatures to Identify Possible Zoonotic Influenza A Viruses.

ABSTRACT: Zoonotic influenza A viruses constantly pose a health threat to humans as novel strains occasionally emerge from the avian population to cause human infections. Many past epidemic as well as pandemic strains have originated from avian species. While most viruses are restricted to their primary hosts, zoonotic strains can sometimes arise from mutations or reassortment, leading them to acquire the capability to escape host species barrier and successfully infect a new host. Phylogenetic analyses and genetic markers are useful in tracing the origins of zoonotic infections, but there are still no effective means to identify high risk strains prior to an outbreak. Here we show that distinct host tropism protein signatures can be used to identify possible zoonotic strains in avian species which

SUBMITTER: Eng CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4767729 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature