A single mutation enhances H5N1 virus transmissibility to humans

A study published in the journal Science by researchers at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, indicates that a single mutation in the haemagglutinin protein, the primary surface protein of the H5N1 virus, could potentially transform the virus, which is currently incapable of infecting humans, into a more contagious strain. The study’s findings indicate that even minor genetic alterations could enhance the virus’ capacity to adapt to human hosts, thereby increasing the likelihood of transmission to our species. As posited by experts in the field, the potential for a virus with this mutation to acquire pandemic status is significantly enhanced should it undergo gene transfer with a human influenza virus. Professor Ian Wilson, a leading authority on structural biology at the Scripps Research Institute in California and the paper’s principal author, maintains that the probability of a pandemic remains relatively low. The scientific community posits that the H5N1 virus exhibits a propensity for binding to avian receptors, which restricts the potential for human-to-human transmission. The virus may require additional mutations before becoming fully transmissible between humans.