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Viral Adaptation to Human Cells Would Aid Spread

Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2006;295:1885-1886.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

As change is one of the constants with viruses, scientists are vigilantly monitoring variances that arise in the H5N1 avian influenza virus that might lead to a pandemic in humans. And in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the H5N1 virus, researchers are trying to predict how it could change its characteristics and cell-binding preferences in the future. Recent efforts with these endeavors have resulted in new information that might be used to prevent the H5N1 virus from gaining a foothold in the human population.

LUNG LOCALE

Two recent articles reveal that, contrary to the notion that avian influenza virus has little affinity for cells of the human respiratory tract, the H5N1 virus preferentially binds to cells deep within the human airway. The studies' findings indicate that while human influenza virus binds to molecules that are prevalent on the surface of cells in the upper airway, avian . . . [Full Text of this Article]