Evolutionary significance and function of influenza A virus genome packaging signals

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The threat of an influenza pandemic is ever present and the prospect of the current strain of bird flu achieving pandemic status is truly alarming. Influenza viruses can evolve rapidly by swapping genes amongst strains of viruses from different hosts. However, key aspects of the processes that govern this ?pick and mix? process are not understood. This grant aims at clarifying the molecular details of influenza evolution with the ultimate aim of being able to predict which combinations of viruses might be more dangerous.