Post Reply - H2H-H5N1 spread in US

Pathfinder replied

JULY 24, 2024
Editors' notes

Using AI, bird flu study shows greater antibody evasion in newer H5N1 strains

by University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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According to the study, virus mutations related to "host-shifts" from birds to mammals had a statistically significant negative impact on the ability of antibodies to bind to and fight off H5N1. Researchers also found that based on the wide variety of host species and geographic locations in which H5N1 was observed to have been transmitted from birds to mammals, there does not appear to be a single central reservoir host species or location associated with H5N1's spread.

This indicates that the virus is well on its way to moving from epidemic to pandemic status in the near future.
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"H5 related avian influenza A is an emerging pathogen in humans while being an ongoing pandemic in wildlife for over two years," said White, Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics. "Our predictive study provides a window to the future of using AI in the arms race against emerging pathogens."