The Race to Stop Bird Flu Dead in its Tracks
AUSTRALIA — Researchers at Griffith University Institute for Glycomics, Queensland led by Professor Mark von Itzstein have developed a technique to 'crack-the-code' of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus.It will enable influenza virus specialists and drug researchers to interrogate one of the virus’ key surface proteins without risk of infection.
* "It's similar to the way it would be difficult to work out how a gun functions by only studying a bullet." |
Professor Malik Peiris
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This approach will enable the rapid identification of avian and other influenza viruses that have attained the capacity to recognize human receptors and therefore acquired the potential for easy human-to-human transmission.
The Griffith team collaborated with an international project partner team at the Hong Kong University-Institut Pasteur led by Professor Malik Peiris who developed a method to insert the deadly bird flu’s H5 protein in a harmless vehicle called a 'virus-like particle'.
"To better interrogate a virus protein, researchers need to be able to observe and monitor the way it functions when associated with a virus particle," Professor von Itzstein said.
"It's similar to the way it would be difficult to work out how a gun functions by only studying a bullet."
The use of these virus-like particles as a vehicle for the virus protein enables researchers to work without the need for high-containment laboratory procedures mandatory for handling live virus.
Further Reading
- You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here. |