Adaptation of avian influenza A virus polymerase in mammals to overcome the host species barrier.

Abstract excerpt

Avian influenza A viruses, such as the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 viruses, sporadically enter the human population but often do not transmit between individuals. In rare cases, however, they establish a new lineage in humans. In addition to well-characterized barriers to cell entry, one major hurdle which avian viruses must overcome is their poor polymerase activity in human cells. There is compelling evidence...

Topics

• Adaptation, Biological
• Animals
• Birds
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Influenza A virus
• Influenza in Birds
• Models, Biological
• Mutation
• Nucleoproteins