Futurity July 19, 2024
Researchers have discovered that certain human flu viruses and avian flu viruses use a second entry pathway to infect cells.
This ability helps the viruses infect different species—and potentially jump between animals and humans.
The majority of type A influenza viruses circulating in birds and pigs aren’t normally a health risk for humans. However, the viruses may pose a threat if there is an outbreak like the one currently in dairy cattle in the US or during seasonal epidemics. In rare cases, a virus can jump from animals to humans—with potentially devastating consequences such as a global pandemic.
Most influenza viruses enter host cells by using their envelope proteins, which stand up from the surface like spikes. The so-called hemagglutinin...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor