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A group of University of Tokyo researchers has warned that a new deadly flu pandemic could result from a mixing of genes from the new swine flu that hit last year with those from the highly pathogenic avian flu.
The researchers, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the university's Institute of Medical Science, found the H1N1 flu, which originated in swine, and the H5N1 bird flu are highly compatible, meaning their genes could easily be recombined.
The evolution of influenza viruses can take place through a process called reassortment. While the deadly avian flu virus does not easily multiply in the human body, the new swine flu virus, which is much less pathogenic, does. The researchers said a combination of the two could create pandemic H5N1 viruses.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008050258.html
The researchers, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the university's Institute of Medical Science, found the H1N1 flu, which originated in swine, and the H5N1 bird flu are highly compatible, meaning their genes could easily be recombined.
The evolution of influenza viruses can take place through a process called reassortment. While the deadly avian flu virus does not easily multiply in the human body, the new swine flu virus, which is much less pathogenic, does. The researchers said a combination of the two could create pandemic H5N1 viruses.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008050258.html