News Title: A.I. Virus Adapting to Infect Humans
News Date: Jun 06, 2008

H7 A.I. Viruses May Be Adapting to Better Infect Humans

Scientists from the U.S. Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University, and the Scripps Research Institute have found evidence that North American avian influenza viruses of the H7 subtype are becoming more like human flu viruses in their ability to attach to host cells, which suggests they may be improving their capacity to infect humans. The investigators determined that several recent North American H7 viruses have an increased ability to bind to a type of receptor molecule that is abundant on human tracheal cells and is less common in birds. Their results were published this week by the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science. Infectious disease expert Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, called the study scientifically "outstanding" and said it is a reminder that it's impossible to predict which breed of flu virus will evolve into the next pandemic strain. Source: CAHC Animal Health News