IDENTIFICATION OF MOLECULAR FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE REASSORTMENT AND PANDEMIC POTENTIAL OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA H5 VIRUSES

自从H5N1“禽流感”病毒首次出现在人类身上以来，这种病毒以大流行的形式在世界各地传播的风险一直令人担忧。它们现在在鸟类中广泛传播，已在世界各地造成860人感染和454人死亡。最近，H5病毒发生了变化，并在自然界中更自由地与其他流感病毒混合。该项目将研究为什么会发生这些变化，并将加强公共卫生努力，为未来的流感大流行做好准备。

The risk that H5N1 “bird flu’ viruses will spread around the world in a pandemic has been a concern since they first emerged in humans. They are now widespread in birds and have caused 860 human infections and 454 deaths around the world. Recently H5 viruses have changed and are mixing more freely with other flu viruses in nature. This project will examine why these changes have occurred and will strengthen public health efforts to prepare for future influenza pandemics.